Vegetation in Yangmingshan fire could take 1 year to recover: MOI

Taipei, April 24 (CNA) A fire that burned down roughly 4.5 hectares of vegetation in Taipei's Yangmingshan could take about a year to recover, a Ministry of the Interior (MOI) official said on Thursday.

The blaze destroyed silvergrass and portions of the Yangmingshan National Park's arrow bamboo forest, head of the MOI's National Park Service Wang Cheng-chi (王成機) told reporters.

It could take them about one year to recover as their roots were unaffected, Wang said.

The fire, which broke out around 11:16 a.m. on April 14 near the mountainous Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area, raged for about five hours and burned some 32 hectares before it was extinguished at 4:32 p.m. No deaths or injuries were reported.

It was likely caused by air quality monitoring equipment belonging to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) installed at the site.

Besides the burned vegetation, the fire also damaged various amenities, including ropes, sand-filled barriers and several wooden posts along the forest trail, Wang said.

The total estimated damage is between NT$1.7 million (US$52,260) and NT$1.8 million, he said, noting that once the investigation is finalized, a compensation claim will be pursued.

The air quality monitoring equipment's lithium battery module and sensor components, which allegedly sparked the fire, are being analyzed, with results to be completed on April 28, National Fire Agency Director-General Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) said.

Taipei police and prosecutors will look at those results before finalizing a report within the next 15 days, with the latest being 30 days, Hsiao added.

Regarding wildfire prevention and response efforts, the National Park Service will continue to collaborate with the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, firefighting units, experts and scholars to enhance the forest-fire early warning system, conduct joint drills, and carry out disaster-prevention education, the MOI said.