Russia is grateful to the United States over the assistance in tackling the wildfires raging across the country, Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
On Friday U.S. President Barack Obama made a phone call to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev to express his condolences about the disastrous environmental situation in Central Russia and the readiness to supply firefighting equipment.
"Obama reiterated the U.S. readiness to supply the necessary firefighting equipment and render expert assistance," kremlin.ru official website said.
Later that day the United States sent to Russia two planes with state-of-the-art nonflammable uniform for firefighters, special shoes, helmets and glasses onboard. Additional two aircraft with firefighting equipment are expected to arrive.
The Russian area on fire has decreased by 8,000 hectares and is now 56,200 hectares.
A scorching heat wave has gripped much of European Russia since mid-June, which coupled with the worst drought since the 1970s has made the countryside particularly susceptible to wildfires.
Thousands of emergency workers and military personnel have been working round the clock for almost three weeks to fight fires in 22 Russian regions. The immediate economic cost of the fires has been estimated at $15 billion.
MOSCOW, August 14 (RIA Novosti)
