The number of forest fires in Russia's Primorye Territory has increased from 27 to 39 in the course of the past twenty-four hours. Whereas they were blazing the day before on a total area of 1857.5 hectares of Taiga, it increased on Tuesday to 2728.5 hectares. Two hundred and eighty-seven men, including 138 forest guards, and 46 fire engines are now endeavoring to put them out, Itar-Tass was told at the Chief Department of the Ministry for Emergency Situations in Primorye Territory. The rapid spreading of forest fires is chiefly due to the carelessness of the local population, which is not observing all the fire precautions. This includes their habit of burning dry grass and is also due to dry and hot weather on the entire Territory: the temperature had reached there up to 28 degree Centigrade and had even topped 30 degree in some districts. The rescuers and the territorial authorities are calling on the population to observe all the rules of fire safety. This refers, primarily, to holidaymakers, hunters and collectors of useful herbs. Preventive measures were started in all the towns and cities of the Territory, which are within the risky zones: garbage is being collected, roadways are being cleared for fire engines to reach the blazing areas, and sources of water are being prepared to extinguish the fires. It is reported from Gorno-Altaisk that fourteen forest fires were recorded in the Tuva Republic since April. Forests are blazing there on an area of 1,834 hectares, an official on duty at the Tuva Ministry for Natural Resources told Itar-Tass.
