This year’s first forest fires spotted in S Primorye

This year’s first forest fires spotted in S Primorye

16 February 2011

published by www.itar-tass.com

Russia — This year’s first forest fires have been recorded in the south of the Primorsky (maritime) Territory, or Primorye, for short. Several foci of fire have been spotted in Khasan Nature Park in sectors adjacent to Posyet Gulf and to the Federal wildlife sanctuary Leopardovy (leopard land).

Yelena Starostina, press secretary of the Amur branch of the World Wildlife Fund, has told Itar-Tass that efforts to grapple with the fires are being made by the personnel of hunting sector and farming enterprises. An uncontrolled burning out of dry grass ahead of spring-time fieldwork is referred to as the main cause of the emergence of forest fires.

Specialists note the incidence of forest fires too early in the year. As a rule, first forest fires in the Territory are usually recorded early in April. However, this year the snow cover in Primorye’s south-west has practically melted following succession of warm days.