17 July 2002
Forest fire in Brest region spreads for 300 hectares

 The huge forest fire raging within the Polessky military ground in the Stolin district, Brest region, has spread for a total of 300 hectares.
Konstantin Shershunovich, head of the regional department on emergency situations, surveyed the area on July 15. The fire is reported to have covered 226 hectares in the Bukchanskoye military forestry, 67 hectares in the Stvigskoye forestry, and 7 hectares in the Khrapunskoye
forestry. The foresters and military troops have localized the fire with no assistance from the emergencies ministry's units.
The marshy forest terrain, impenetrable to heavy vehicles, makes firefighting extremely difficult. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reports no danger to populated areas, as the nearest village is 25 kilometers away.
Although the Stolin district is known as the most radioactively contaminated area in the Brest region, experts insist that there is no radioactive danger either.