24 Apr 2014 13:56

Forest fires growing in Trans-Baikal territory, Buryatia

CHITA. April 24 (Interfax) - Forest fires have grown more than three times, to an area of 12,200 hectares, in the Trans-Baikal territory over the past 24 hours, the territorial unit of the Federal Forestry Agency told Interfax.

"Thirty-nine fires are burning in the territory and twelve of them have been confined," the source said, citing high winds and dry weather as causes of the rapid spread of forest fires.

An emergency situation regime has been put into place in the Trans-Baikal territory and Buryatia over the high forest fire rate.