Russia's Transbaikal Territory, Buryatia declare federal wildfire emergency - agency

MOSCOW. June 3 (Interfax) - A government commission has declared a federal wildfire emergency in Transbaikal Territory and Russia's internal republic of Buryatia at the proposal of the Federal Forestry Agency.

"The declaration of an emergency will expedite the assignment of additional forces and hardware to fight wildfires and will facilitate compensation for spending on extinguishing forest fires," the service said in a statement on Monday.

Federal Forestry Agency head Ivan Sovetnikov described the situation as complicated but manageable. "Rosleskhoz has deployed 400 smokejumpers of the Aerial Forest Protection Service and regional aviation divisions to these territories," the agency quoted Sovetnikov as saying.

Three wildfires have been put out on 2,500 hectares in Transbaikal Territory and Buryatia, and 38 fires are raging on 96,700 hectares. In total, 1,300 people and 164 vehicles are fighting the fires. The firefighting teams deployed in the regions are being strengthened, the agency said.

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