Shen Tongcheng, 15, will start high school next month. His father volunteered as a chain saw operator working on the mountain, while Shen and his elder sister started to collect rubbish at the rescue station on Friday.

"I wanted to do something to contribute after I saw some little kids, probably primary school students, collecting rubbish at the rescue station," Chen said.

The outstanding work of the volunteers and the hospitality of local residents impressed the firefighters.

Bai Xueguang, from Gansu Forest Fire Brigade, said, "I never imagined that I would have popsicles and cold drinks at a fire rescue site."

Zhou Hongyu, from Yunnan Forest Fire Brigade, said every volunteer he met at the scene asked him if he needed anything.

"It was the first time I had taken a motorcycle to reach a fire scene. We really appreciate the locals' hospitality. Their support has been wonderful," Zhou said.