A 24-hour monitoring system has been adopted to ensure safety in more than 4,000 hectares of forests in the district, the bureau said.

To combat the heat and drought, Chongqing is preparing to introduce artificial precipitation when weather conditions allow. Nearly 600 people are on standby at 266 work stations across the city, with 107 anti-aircraft guns and 96 rocket launches ready to carry out the work.

In recent days, artificial precipitation operations have taken place in Dingshan and Dongxi counties in the city's Qijiang district to ease severe drought, the local authorities said on Sunday.

This summer has seen significantly reduced rainfall in Chongqing's northern county of Chengkou. Total rainfall of 415.8 millimeters has been recorded in the area so far this year－58 percent of the total the previous year.

As of Monday, the water level in Sanhe reservoir, the county's water supply source, was 25 percent of total capacity.

Feng Yue, director of the local water resources bureau, said the county is preparing to open Yang'erba reservoir, a backup water source, to meet demand from more than 50,000 residents.

Deng Rui in Chongqing contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at tanyingzi@chinadaily.com.cn