Wildfire is threatening to engulf the military command of the Alabinsk garrison in the Moscow region, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
"As a result of strong wind, a fire that was localized yesterday has picked up again in forest close to one of the military commands of the Alabinsk garrison," the spokesman said.
He said over 1,000 servicemen, 30 units of fire fighting equipment and two helicopters are involved in efforts to extinguish the fire.
A scorching heat wave has gripped much of European Russia since mid-June, sparking wildfires and causing the worst drought in decades.
Medvedev on Tuesday ordered Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu to draw up a special program to boost the firefighting service.
The program should ensure sufficient numbers of vehicles and other means of transportation, including airplanes.
MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti)
