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Emergency still in effect over forest fires in Bratsk district

A Mi-26 helicopter and two Mi-8 helicopters are on standby in Bratsk

IRKUTSK, October 3 (Itar-Tass) —— No wildfires were reported burning at 7 a.m. local time (2 a.m. Moscow time) on Monday in the park area in the city of Bratsk, a source in the Irkutsk regional emergency situations department told Itar-Tass on Monday. However, the emergency regime, which was introduced over the dry weather and a high fire hazard on September 30, is still in effect in the city of Bratsk and the Bratsk district, the source said.

Seven fires on about 450 hectares were put out in Bratsk last weekend. Some 665 people and 32 machines have been involved in the efforts to put down the fires completely and to patrol the fire area since Monday morning. Some 1,460 volunteers are planned to be engaged in the firefighting efforts.

A Mi-26 helicopter and two Mi-8 helicopters are on standby in Bratsk.

“The weather is forecast not to change in the next 24 hours. The precipitation is forecast starting from October 7,” the source noted.

The number of ambulance calls did not reduce and the studies are cancelled at educational establishments over a heavy smoke in the city, the Bratsk authorities reported.

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