Russia Swept by Forest Fires, 290 Fire Epicenters Spotted
7/7/99
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Title: Russia Swept by Forest Fires, 290 Fire Epicenters Spotted
Source: Itar-Tass
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: July 7, 1999
MOSCOW, July 7 (Itar-Tass) - Russia has been swept by forest
fires. A total of 290 fire epicenters, including 97 which
appeared over the past twenty four hours, have been
registered in Russia now. The total area swept by the fires
has been estimated at 2,300 hectares now, the press center
of the Federal Forestry department reported.
Over 3,000 personnel have been involved in fire-
extinguishing. Fire-fighting machinery involved includes 66
aircraft and 462 ground fire extinguishing machinery. A
total of 120 fire epicenters have been liquidated by now.
The total number of forest fires registered in Russia since
a hot season fraught with forest fires began reached 17,630
now. The total area affected by forest fires totals 520,560
hectares.
The biggest number of forest fires has been reported in the
Khabarovsk region (28 fires on the territory of 173
hectares), the Vologda region ( 20 fires on 272 hectares,
and the Krasnoyarsk region (21 fires per 19 hectares). The
fires ravaging in these areas have been reported difficult
to extinguish.