No wildfires are reported in the Moscow region and the entire fire situation is under control, head of Russian forestry authority (Rosleskhoz) Viktor Maslyakov said on Tuesday. According to Maslyakov, all fires (there were nine on Monday) are extinguished on the same day they break out. Since the beginning of this year's fire season (on April 25), about 300 wildfires on an overall area of 159 hectares have been registered in the region, Itar-Tass reported. On Monday, some media cited witnesses and the Moscow environment monitoring authority saying that there was a smell of burning in Moscow's south eastern outskirts. There were alleged reports about at least two fires in the immediate vicinity of the city. Such reports may be attributed to "subjective psychological factors," said deputy head of the Rosleskhoz Yevgeny Trunov. According to the Roslezkhoz official, all yesterday's fires were put out. He also recalled that entry to forests has been restricted in a number of regions, including the Moscow region. Administrative fines for trespassing may range from 2,500 to 4,000 roubles. Nonetheless, he said, such restrictions do not mean a complete ban. Entry is only banned to certain forest sections. Roads leading to such sections are generally closed.
