Forests at area of over 2,000 hectares on fire in Russia
09:57, 4 May 2010
MOSCOW. May 4. KAZINFORM As many as 29 forest fires have been registered in Russia, the total area of which exceeds 2,000 hectares, the information department of the RF Emergency Situations Ministry reported on Monday, Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
"There was a transfer of a steppe fire from the Mongolian territory to the territory of Russia 20 kilometres southwest of the Builesan settlement of the Onovsky district of the Trans-Baikal Territory. The fire has been localised at an area of 123 hectares," the ministry said.
Almost 2,000 people are engaged in the forest fire extinguishing efforts, they use over 5 machinery units and 9 aircraft.
"The forest fires pose no danger to settlements, oil and gas pipelines, as well as to hazardous facilities," the ministry reported.
A total more than 3,000 wildfires have started in Russia since the beginning of the fire hazard period at a total area of 60,300 hectares, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com