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New fire erupts at Chernobyl exclusion zone — Ukraine’s emergencies service

The previous huge fire in the Chernobyl exclusion zone occurred on August 9

KIEV, September 1 /TASS/. A new fire erupted in the Chernobyl exclusion zone on Tuesday evening, a duty officer of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service told TASS.

He had no information about the exact place of fire or the fire area size.

"The fire occurred in the exclusion zone. We do not have immediate information but the situation is under control," the service’s source said.

The previous huge fire in the Chernobyl exclusion zone occurred between the former villages of Buda Varovichi and Kovshilovka on August 9. Dry grass and forest cover went ablaze on a territory of 32 hectares. Firefighters localized the fire on August 14.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk did not rule out intentional arson. He sent additional National Guard forces to protect the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

On August 17, Ukrainian rescuers set up a 4-kilometre-long firebreak in the territory of the Chernobylskaya Pushcha nature reserve to contain the fire.

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspection of Ukraine recorded an increase of the radiation level during another huge fire in the Chernobyl exclusion zone on July 1.