"Thirty-eight hot spots of forest fires covering an area of 917.3 hectares (2,267 acres) are active. Thirteen of them at an area of 705.8 hectares have been contained," the center said.
The forest fires are mainly in East Siberia.
Wildfires across Russia are common, especially during dry and hot summers and in the fall. Most fires start because of carelessness on the part of local residents.
Forest fires devastated a number of regions in central Russia in 2010, killing 62 people and leaving thousands homeless.
(Uu.H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
