Control Yuan investigates Yushan National Park fireBAD NAME: A government employee who allegedly caused a fire that might result in up to NT$10 million in damages hurt the image of civil servants, officials saidBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThree Control Yuan members are to investigate a forest fire at Yushan National Park that was allegedly caused by a civil servant, the government oversight body said yesterday. A National Airborne Service Corps helicopter dumps water onto a forest fire at Yushan National Park in Chiayi County yesterday on the ninth consecutive day of the blaze, which is so far estimated to have destroyed 71 hectares of forest. The three Control Yuan members said that their investigation would focus on whether Chiao and his companions secured permits to enter the park and whether they breached other regulations during the hike. Meanwhile, officials overseeing forests and national parks would be held accountable if they did not thoroughly enforce the Forestry Act and National Park Act (國家公園法) by cracking down on people illegally starting fires in national preservation areas. People accidentally causing a forest fire could face up to two years in prison, which can be commuted to a fine of up to NT$300,000 (US$10,733), the Forestry Act stipulates.

Source: Taipei Times May 24, 2021 15:56 UTC