Forest fires put out in Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan regions of Russia

YEKATERINBURG. May 18 (Interfax) - All forest fires have been put out in the Chelyabinsk, Tyumen and Kurgan regions of Russia, the forestry department of the Urals Federal District said in a statement.

"There is a peat fire burning on 50 hectares in the Beryozovsky urban district in the Sverdlovsk region," the department press service said.

The first wildfires of this year have been reported from Yamal, the press service said. Three forest fires sparked by thunders broke out in Yamal on Tuesday on a total area of 11 hectares.

In all, 881 forest fires on an area nearing 66,000 hectares have been recorded in the Urals Federal District since the beginning of the wildfire season. There have been 249 fires (on 44,000 hectares) in the Kurgan region, 254 fires (on 10,000) in the Sverdlovsk region, 141 fires (on 9,000 hectares) in the Tyumen region, and 228 fires (2,000 hectares) in the Chelyabinsk region. The Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District - Yugra reported six fires on 45 hectares.