The damages from forest fires in the Altai Territory have already been estimated at about 40 million roubles. The region is preparing for a worse fire situation. All fire services are put on high alert, a source in the territorial forest department told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. The weather conditions create a sharp fire situation in Altai this year. A cold and rainy summer turned out to be quite favorable for the growth of various verbs. "More fires are expected in autumn, because a high dry grass may trigger major fires and the windy weather by October," chief of the forest protection department in the territorial forest service Sergei Liyasov said. According to weather forecasts, a 30-degree heat will come to Altai this weekend that will persist most likely in the region for a quite long period of time. "Considering the unfavorable weather forecast all possible measures should be taken to prevent and avert forest fires, for most of which people are to blame now," Deputy Governor Yakov Ishutin said. Some 472 forest fires were reported in Altai this year, the territorial forest service said. Some 70% of fires were mostly caused by the careless handling with fire. Fire depots in the Altai Territory are already on high alert now. All firefighting equipment and fire engines are fully provided with fuels and lubricants and are on standby for the firefighting efforts in emergency conditions. Three new helicopters are patrolling a greater part of Altai forests this year.
