Firefighters and local responders work to block a grassland fire on Sunday. [Photo by Inner Mongolia Fire and Rescue Mobile Corps/For chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 2,000 firefighters and local responders are working to block a grassland fire that has been spreading from Mongolia toward the Inner Mongolia autonomous region border since Friday.

The fire broke out on the Mongolian side of the border near Dong Ujimchin Banner in Xiliin Gol League at around 1 pm on Friday. Driven by terrain and wind, the blaze has been advancing toward the border areas of Xiliin Gol League and Hinggan League, Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

Firefighters and local responders work to block a grassland fire on Sunday. [Photo by Inner Mongolia Fire and Rescue Mobile Corps/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Firefighters and local responders work to block a grassland fire on Sunday. [Photo by Inner Mongolia Fire and Rescue Mobile Corps/For chinadaily.com.cn]

In response, Inner Mongolia mobilized more than 2,000 personnel from rescue teams and local firefighting forces to set up segmented control along the border, focusing on armed patrols and standby interception.

As of 9 pm on Sunday, the interception operation was still underway. The fire has not yet crossed into Chinese territory.

Firefighters and local responders work to block a grassland fire on Sunday. [Photo by Inner Mongolia Fire and Rescue Mobile Corps/For chinadaily.com.cn]