Yakutia declares federal wildfire emergency - Russian Emergency Situations Ministry

MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) - The wildfire situation in Russia's Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) has been declared a federal emergency, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry' press service said on Monday.

The ministry hosted a meeting of the Government Commission on the Prevention and Mitigation of Emergencies and the Provision of Fire Safety chaired by Deputy Minister Viktor Yatsutsenko on July 1.

"At the Government Commission's meeting it was decided to designate the emergency in forests in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) a federal emergency," the press service said.

Over 100 wildfires are ranging on more than 331,000 hectares in Yakutia.

According to the Aerial Forest Protection Service, over 1,500 people and 100 pieces of hardware are fighting the blaze. Aircraft of the Emergency Situations Ministry are monitoring the wildfire situation and helping extinguish fires.

The wildfire season began in Yakutia on May 6. The local authorities declared a regional emergency on June 11. The wildfire alert is in effect across Yakutia.