Russian wildfires still spreading

A man walks at the court yard of his house after it was burned by a forest fire near the town of Voronezh some 500 km (294 miles) south of Moscow, Saturday, July 31, 2010. Russia sent the army on Saturday to battle wildfires that have killed at least 28 people and were threatening dozens of towns and villages. Thick smoke and ash slowed firefighting efforts and thousands of people were being evacuated.

Firefighters have brought wildfires under control in some parts of Russia, but new fires are breaking out elsewhere.

The wildfires that began threatening much of western Russia last week have killed 28 people and destroyed or damaged 77 towns or villages. Thousands have been evacuated from areas in the path of encroaching flames.

In the southern Voronezh region, one of the worst hit, officials said Sunday the fires are under control and no longer threaten any population centers.

But Emergencies Ministry spokeswoman Yelena Chernova said new fires are breaking out elsewhere, particularly in the Mordovia region and around the industrial city of Togliatti.

Much of Russia is suffering a severe drought in the hottest summer since record keeping began 130 years ago.






Residents search for belongings from the ruin of their houses which were destroyed by a forest fire in the town of Voronezh some 500 km (294 miles) south of Moscow, Saturday, July 31, 2010. Russia sent the army on Saturday to battle wildfires that have killed at least 28 people and were threatening dozens of towns and villages. Thick smoke and ash slowed firefighting efforts and thousands of people were being evacuated.


People whose houses was destroyed by a forest fire stand in a queue for a handout of government money, at the hotel in the town of Voronezh some 500 km (294 miles) south of Moscow, Saturday, July 31, 2010. The fires have spread quickly across more than 200,000 acres (90,000 hectares) in recent days after a record heat wave and severe drought that has plagued Russia for weeks


General view showing some of the ruined houses which were destroyed by a forest fire at the outskirts of the town Voronezh some 500 km (294 miles) south of Moscow, Saturday, July 31, 2010. The fires have spread quickly across more than 200,000 acres (90,000 hectares) in recent days after a record heat wave and severe drought that has plagued Russia for weeks.