Wildfire emergency lifted in Russia's Republic of Tuva

KYZYL. Aug 12 (Interfax) - The wildfire situation in Russia's Republic of Tuva has stabilized, as 17 forest fires were extinguished over the past week, Tuva head Vladislav Khovalyg said.

"We decided today to lift the emergency in the republic's forests. The situation has been quickly stabilized owing to the weather and, above all, professional actions of aerial forest protection personnel," Khovalyg said on Telegram on Monday.

Fourteen forest fires are being fought by 216 firemen, including 76 Aerial Forest Protection Service personnel from the Transbaikal Territory, Buryatia, Khakassia and the Krasnoyarsk Territory, he said.

The Tuva Forestry Ministry is preparing for reforestation, and the local authorities and law enforcement agencies are looking for fire culprits, Khovalyg said.

As reported, Tuva declared a wildfire emergency on August 4. Smokejumpers of the Federal Aerial Forest Protection Service and its branches in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Khakassia were deployed to Tuva to fight fires.