Wildfire area shrinks four times in Irkutsk region over past 24 hours

IRKUTSK. May 25 (Interfax) - Nine forest fires were put out on an area of 9,264.3 hectares in the Irkutsk region over the past day, while 13 wildfires are still raging on 3,193 hectares, the regional government's press service said on Wednesday.

"Six forest fires are burning on an area of 97 hectares in the region, including two in the Nizhneudinsk district, and one in the Kachug, Zima, Bratsk and Taishet districts each. Seven wildfires have been fully extinguished on an area of 3,296 hectares," the press service said.

Back on Tuesday morning, the region was fighting nine fires on an area nearing 12,500 hectares, out of which six fires were contained on 12,200 hectares. Hence, the wildfire area shrank by almost four times over the past day.

The fires were being fought by 750 men and ten planes were conducting aerial monitoring on Tuesday, the regional government said.

Earlier it was reported that since May 19, an emergency situation has been in effect in the forests of the Irkutsk region. Any kind of forest activity but firefighting has been put on hold.