Beijing chemical warehouse fire contained

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Fire fighters have almost contained a blaze that has been raging for 6 hours in a chemical warehouse in the Southwestern outskirts of Beijing. The fire started at about 7 in the morning, and has destroyed an area of more than 5,000 square meters of the warehouse. Dense smoke rose about one thousand meters into the air.

One witness says she heard an explosion before the fire. The head of the fire brigade says fire fighters risked their lives to remove about 100 barrels of acetone from a neighboring warehouse to prevent the blaze from spreading.

A test by the local department of environment shows the water and air surrounding the warehouse are not contaminated. Police say they are questioning the person in charge of the warehouse. No casualties have been reported.

The fire started at about 7 in the morning, and has destroyed an area of more than 5,000 square meters of the warehouse.