Forest fires ravage Far East, make life nasty for tens of thousands
Copyright 2001 Associated Press
October 05, 2001
KHABAROVSK, Russia — Forest fires have scorched more than 50,000 hectares (123,500 acres) in this tinder-dry region of the Far East, and tens of thousands of people are struggling to cope with thick clouds of smoke.
Fires were first reported Monday and have spread quickly. There were about 35 fires blazing by Wednesday. One fire was about 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Khabarovsk, the region's largest city with about 618,000 residents.
People venturing outdoors were covering their mouths with wet handkerchiefs and improvised gauze respirators to filter out the soot-filled air. Residents also hung wet sheets up around apartments and placed tubs of water in their homes to absorb the smoke.
"I can't sleep at night; it's so smoky," said Yevgeny Anoshin, a Khabarovsk journalist. "I've got a tub in the middle of my place, but it doesn't help much."
Health officials warn the smoke may cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and the elderly. Carbon dioxide levels around Khabarovsk were five times higher than what is considered safe.
"The amount of visits to doctors has been up," said Andrei Dergach, head of Khabarovsk's health department.
On Wednesday, the air was slightly cleaner thanks to a change in the wind direction, but the situation remained serious, said Yelena Syshcheva, a spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Ministry in Khabarovsk. Regional emergency workers lack the resources to effectively fight the fires, Syshcheva said. She said the ministry has only one plane and two helicopters.
Officials believe the fires were sparked by farmers setting fire to dry grasses or by campers.