Astate of emergency has been declared in Chechnya due to the fires resulting from high air temperatures of 40 degrees C, RIA Novosti reports, citing the head of the group of propaganda and PR in the regional department of the Emergencies Ministry, Timur Taysumov.
High air temperatures are expected on Saturday and Sunday, causing the declaration of a 5th-level fire threat situation, the highest level in the republic, Taysumov said.
The Emergency Ministry recommended citizens avoid visiting forests, burning hay or throwing unextinguished matches and cigarettes.
The Ministry of Forest Economy of Chechnya said that there are half the number of fires this year, compared with the previous year. There were 29 fires in 2009, covering 476 hectares, this year there are 14, covering 220 hectares.
The republic made preparations for the fire season. There are 32 mobile fire groups consisting of 200 people. They have 92 land routes to patrol, covering over 1100 km. 1500 more people and another 200 units of engineering can be employed in the case of an emergency situation. There are 67 points of medical aid for victims of firefighting in the forests. There is constant firefighting training, assisted by the Ministry of Forest Economy and the Ministry of Emergencies.
