KHABAROVSK, August 30 (Itar-Tass) — Russia's Far East reported five fires on an area of 80.5 hectares. "There are three wildfires in the Amur region, in an area of 79 hectares, while Chukotka and the Khabarovsk territory reported one small fire each," the Forestry Department of the Far Eastern Federal District told Itar-Tass.
Firefighters have put out five forest fires in an area of 186 hectares since Monday. According to the far eastern regional emergency situations center, 167 people and 32 units of equipment were enlisted to combat the blazes.
Forest protection services have been replenishing their inventory of fire-fighting equipment ahead of the fire hazard season in the autumn.
The first batch of 11 fire engines on the platform of the Ural truck was delivered to the Amur region. Governor Oleg Kozhemyako passed the keys and documents for the equipment to representatives of the Arkharinsky and Magdagachinsky districts.
He noted that the region was purchasing 83 units of new fire-fighting equipment, including tow trucks, fuel trucks, bulldozers, and tractors. The federal center provided financial assistance, Kozhemyako said.
The federal budget allocated 249 million roubles to equip seven fire-fighting/chemical stations the Amur region set up earlier this year, and another 25 million roubles would come from the regional budget, the governor underlined.
New equipment is also supplied to forest protection units of the Khabarovsk Territory, Primorye, Yakutia and other Russian regions. Vigorous efforts continue to renew and develop new fire lines around settlements, maintain water supply sources and clear landing space for helicopters.