This screenshot taken on April 10, 2012 shows the scene of a forest fire on a mountain in Chengde City, north China's Hebei Province. The forest fire broke out at about 1:55 p.m. Monday in the Luoquangou Village in Chengde. More than 2,000 people have been struggling to put out the forest fire which has been raging rapidly due to steep hills and strong winds. (Xinhua)

More than 2,000 people are struggling to put out a forest fire that has been raging on a mountain to the northeast of Beijing, local authorities said Tuesday.

Steep hills, strong winds and poor telecommunications have added difficulty to efforts to control the blaze, which started on a mountain in Chengde city, Hebei province, at about 1 p.m. Monday, according to a spokesman for provincial forest fire control authorities.

The cause of the fire remains unclear, he said.

Vice provincial governor Shen Xiaoping has arrived at the site, less than 200 km away from Beijing, to oversee the operation.