Two Emergency Ministry’s Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-26 helicopters were putting out wildfires today on Kabelny and Dachny islands that are part of the city of Khabarovsk.

The crews made 34 discharges dropping more than 460 tons of water onto edges of wildfires and reduced the intensity of burning.

The fires spread fast because there were a lot of dry grass, garbage, ramshackle wooden constructions and areas overgrown with grass and bushes, plus high winds prevented firemen from quickly suppressing the flames.

The statistics shows that the main reason of wildfires in autumn is careless handling of fire by summer residents, fishermen, hunters and gatherers. A not put out fire, uncontrolled burning of dry grass or garbage, a match or a cigarette butt end up in a wildfire.

The staff of the Emergency Ministry’s Khabarovsk Territory Directorate are actively working with the population urging people to be maximum attentive and careful, follow fire safety rules both in settlements and in forests.