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Wildfire situation aggravates in Russia’s Tuva

The fire emergency regime is imposed till August 1

GORNO-ALTAISK, July 31 (Itar-Tass) — A wildfire emergency regime has been imposed in eight districts of Russia’s Tuva Republic, where the situation with woodland fires has aggravated. This decision was made at an emergency video session with district authorities that the deputy prime minister of the republic, Vitaly Bartyna-Sady held on Tuesday.

The fire emergency regime is imposed till August 1. The regional forestry committee has received instructions to take immediate measures to restrict access to forest for local residents. The leadership of the committee has also received instructions to prepare a draft resolution on the imposition of an emergency situation regime in republic’s districts and submit it for consideration of the Tuva government.

The chairman of the committee, Vadim Kyzyl-ool, reported that abnormally high temperatures, lack of rains, dry thunderstorms and gale-force winds have caused new fires. Thus, on Monday the number of wildfires increased from 14 to 16. Most of them are fixed in remote hard-of-access areas.

The involvement of local population in fight against fires is inefficient and dangerous. Participants in the video session came out in favor of the emergency situation regime, which will give a possibility to appeal to the Federal Forestry Service to send paratroopers to Tuva.

According to updated information, 18 wildfires engulfing an area of 1,313 hectares rage in the republic. Three fires engulfing an area of 12 hectares have been localized.

Weathermen say average temperatures in August are expected one degree higher than the norm, and the number of expected rains will be lower.