One person is dead and four are injured after a forest fire suddenly changed direction during strong winds in Heilongjiang province.

More than 4,000 residents from up to 35 km away had been evacuated from their homes as authorities struggled to bring the raging inferno under control last night.

More than 6,750 emergency personnel are battling the blaze, which has ravaged 600 sq kms of the Yinanhe Forest Farm since it began on Monday.