Over 250 forest fires engulf on over 35,000 hectares in Russia

Four major fires on a total of 5.4 thousand hectares are raging in the Trans-Baikal territory and the Russian Republic of Buryatia. ?The firefighting efforts are still in progress in the settlement of Sibiryakovo, Trans-Baikal territory,? the information service said. A forest fire has engulfed on a total of 2,000 hectares due to strong winds in the territory on Wednesday. Sibiryakovo was exposed to a fire threat in the vicinity of the Trans-Baikal city of Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky. Though the fire threat to the settlement was lessened, the firefighting efforts are in progress. ?Over 1,000 people are involved in the firefighting operation,? the information department. More than 7.6 thousand people and over 1,500 pieces of special machinery, including 39 airplanes and helicopters on air reconnaissance missions are involved in the firefighting operations in Russia; Kazinform cites to Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.