vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #610 / Special reports / Reading article...

85 transport vehicles and about 250 people are currently involved in extinguishing massive steppe fires burning in the Russian Far East region of Khabarovsk, a statement from the region’s Department for Emergency Situations reported Tuesday.

The fires started at the end of last week and have spread to the region’s Khabarovsky, Vyazemsky, Verkhnebureinsky and Imeni Lazo counties, with dry grass and water-logged areas covered with sparse deciduous wood ablaze.

Since March 8, a total of about 300 fires have happened in the region. The most massive fires occurred on Sunday and Monday, destroying dry grass on the minor islands along the Amur River and the left bank of the river.

According to the statement, 40 private houses have gone up in flames and a 400 square meter storehouse with soil fertilizers and agricultural equipment was destroyed on a local farm.

The situation has been instigated by the abnormally snowless winter, a warm beginning to spring and low humidity, as well as a large number of people relaxing outside of the city and starting fires, the statement said.

On Sunday, wind speeds of 20 meters per second, a temperature of 10C and low humidity of 30 percent caused the largest number of fires to occur, the statement said.

Currently, an additional 25 transport vehicles including bulldozers, tractors, creepers and air-cushion cutters, as well as the military, are fighting the fires.

The strong smell of burning was permeating through the city of Khabarovsk on Monday, the statement said. The visibility on the roads, according to the city’s meteorological service, was low and reached only 2,000 meters, with 4,000 meters considered good visibility.

According to the statement, the precipitation forecasted for Thursday is expected to extinguish the heart of the fires and thus stabilize the situation.