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1,500 ha afire near Bratsk, smoldering places watered.

Сarbon oxide concentration in the city's central part most severely affected by the smoke is within the safe levels

IRKUTSK, October 4 (Itar-Tass) — There are eight fires on 1,500 ha in the Bratsk district at present. Smoldering places in the city of Bratsk are being watered, first deputy government head of the Irkutsk Region Vladimir Pashkov and head of the Emergencies Ministry's regional department Vyacheslav Eglit told reporters on Tuesday.

Water is being poured onto the smoldering places to make them waterlogged, Pashkov said. According to him, the situation has improved, so it was decided to conduct air tests every six hours, but not in two hours as before.

At present, carbon oxide concentration in the city's central part most severely affected by the smoke is within the safe levels.

According to Eglit, the main forces of the forest guard and EMERCOM services are brought in the Bratsk area. At 12:00 local time, an Ilyushin-76 plane from Moscow and Mi-26 and Mi-8 helicopters were operating there.

Farming and woodcutting work is banned in the region. Policemen are posted to control the situation.

Local schools were recommended to cancel classes due to the high carbon oxide concentration, three times higher than the safe level.

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