Wildfires engulf almost 2,000 hectares of taiga east off Lake Baikal

ULAN-UDE, June 10 (Itar-Tass) - Wildfires are spreading in the taiga
in the Trans-Baikal territory, officials at the territorial branch of the
Ministry for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense /EMERCOM/ told
Itar-Tass Friday.
"A total seventeen wildfires have been registered in the Trans-Baikal
territory today," an official told Itar-Tass. "They have engulfed a total
area of 1,995 hectares of the taiga, while the figure for Wednesday was
slightly more than 1,700 hectares."
"Strong firefighting precautions remain in effect in the Trans-Baikal
territory," the official said. "More than 750 men and up to 130 vehicles
and six aircraft are engaged in the efforts to curb the blaze."
For the first time ever, the Defense Ministry has handed to the
Trans-Baikal territory 150 water spraying stations on the basis of ZIL-131
trucks.
"All the vehicles will be remodeled into civilian firefighting cars at
the Defense Ministry's Central Auto Repairs Plant," an official said.
"After that they will be handed to the regional firefighting service or to
volunteer firefighting teams."