Area of forest fires in Siberia grows 3 times over last 24 hours

The area of forest fires in Russia's Siberian Federal District has grown 3.3 times over the last 24 hours to 108,300 hectares, the district’s forestry department said on Monday.
"A total of 146 forest fires are blazing on the area of 108,300 hectares on the territory of the Siberian Federal District," the forestry department said.

More than half of forest fires on the area of 63,600 hectares are blazing in the Buryatia Republic in south Siberia. Another 27,200 hectares are engulfed by fire in the Zabaikalye Territory. Blazes are also reported in the Republic of Tyva and Zabaikalsky Krai. A total of 10,700 hectares of forest fires are registered in nature reserves in Buryatia and Irkutsk Region.

Forest guards have liquidated 52 forest fires on the area of 5,000 hectares. Around 3,500 people, 499 units of special equipment and 11 aircraft were employed in the firefighting. No cases were reported of settlements or facilities catching fire.