MOSCOW, August 23, (RIA Novosti) - There are 43 seats of natural fires with a total area of 423.4 hectares on the Russian territory, RIA Novosti was told at the information department of the emergencies situations ministry.
Over 24 hours fires covered the area of 68.4 hectares of which 64.9 hectares fell on forests," the ministry reported.
According to its data there is no threat to populated localities, preserves, oil and gas pipelines as well as to the potentially dangerous and other economic facilities. A total of 536 firemen , 115 pieces of equipment and three air ships have been involved to extinguish fires.
Since the beginning of fire-risk period this year there appeared 21,947 seats of natural fires in Russia with a total area of 500,982 hectares, including 419,501 hectares of forests, added the RIA interlocutor.
