``The fires started on May 13 and they are still not under control,'' a spokesmanwith the ministry's fire control management office said. ``If the weather conditions return to normal, we hope the fires can be controlledby this evening or tomorrow morning,'' he added.

Some 4,500 people, five planes and 100 vehicles have been mobilised to control the blaze, which started in Xingan county on May 13 and spread to Hulun Buir county on May 15 because of high winds.

No casualties have been reported. The fires were started by lightning strikes during a wind storm after two weeks of high temperatures scorched the area dry.

A thick layer of leaves on the ground is encouraging the fire and hampering control work, but winds dropped overnight Monday, making control work slightly easier, local officials told Xinhua.