Fires spread over 25,000 ha in Far East Russia taiga
Copyright 2001 ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 12, 2001, Friday
By Leonid Vonogradov
VLADIVOSTOK, October 12 - The total area of burning forests has grown to 25,000 hectares in Far East Russia.
Pilots of the local forestry air service report 62 fire outbreaks in the Amur region and the Maritime (Primorye) and Khabarovsk territories. Most of the fires are in the Khabarovsk territory, the Far East regional centre for emergencies said.
There are 12 large outbreaks over 13,230 hectares in the territory.
A total area of 8,500 hectares is ablaze in the Ussuriisk taiga, Primorye, and 2,500 hectares are burning in the Amur region.
More than 800 firefighters and 150 units of various special vehicles and equipment are working at the sites.
There is no threat to populated areas and industrial facilities in the region for the present.