Firefighters and civilians got together Monday to enjoy their victory in their 10-day fight with a forest fire in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Local authorities announced the fire was completely extinguished after monitoring the forest for 72 hours since the flames were controlled last Friday.

The forest fire began in Anning City, about 28 kilometers from Kunming, capital of Yunnan, on March 29.

It destroyed 1,333 hectares of forest but there were no casualties or damage to homes. More than 800 evacuated villagers have now returned to their communities.

Premier Wen Jiabao and other high-ranking officials including Hui Liangyu, Zhou Yongkang and Hua Jianmin have monitored the work of the firefighters. They had requested that the fire fighters do everything possible to ensure there was no loss of life or property.

Police have arrested a woman in connection with the fire amid allegations of arson. 

The woman, in her 20s, gave no name or address, and had been sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation, according to forestry officials.

(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2006)