Heat Wave Brings Fires To Yamal Tundra
Heat Wave Brings Fires To Yamal Tundra
29 July 2005
publishedby ITAR-TASS
Salekhard (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area) — A heat wave in Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, has triggered tundra fires in the region, sources from the local department for emergency situations told Itar-Tass on Friday.
They said six fires are registered on the Taz Peninsula at the present moment.
Practically all staffers of the emergency service for forest protection are engaged in combating the blaze.
Fire-fighting planes have liquidated three fires on the area of over 13 hectares, and localized one more fire. Now specialists are trying to cope with the biggest fire, raging on the area of 7.5 hectares.
All in all, 38 centers of forest and tundra fires are registered in Yamal. Ten of them have been localized. The total area of fires is about 600 hectares. About 300 specialists, Mi-8 helicopters and ground vehicles are fighting against the fires.
Dry thunders have become the main reason behind the fires.
