They are burning clearly: forest fires may cover more than 40 regions in August

"The forecast of high risks does not necessarily mean an emergency in connection with forest fires. In many ways, the forest fire situation depends on citizens' compliance with fire safety rules in forests and adjacent territories. It also depends on the speed of detection and extinguishing of emerging forest fires," the ministry explained.

Russia is currently experiencing a summer peak of burning, which usually falls at the end of July – early August, said the head of the Federal Forestry Agency Ivan Advisers. The figures are lower than last year's and five-year averages. Since the beginning of 2025, 4.9 thousand forest fires have been recorded on the lands of the forest fund in Russia on an area of 3.9 million hectares. Last year, by the last days of July, these figures were as follows: 6.2 thousand fires on an area of 6 million hectares.

Currently, 87 forest fires are being extinguished in 15 regions. An emergency regime has been introduced in the Verkhoyansk and Tomponsky municipalities of Yakutia, in the Evenki municipality of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and in the Muezersk municipality of Karelia. A special fire protection regime has been established in 58 regions of Russia.

On Tuesday, a regional emergency regime was introduced in Tuva due to forest fires, said the head of the republic Vladislav Khovalyg. He called the situation with forest fires in the region alarming.

"The dry, hot weather has contributed to an increase in their number. Over the past day, 24 fires have already been registered. The fire has engulfed 870 hectares of our taiga, and this figure, unfortunately, is growing. The main reason is dry thunderstorms," he wrote on his Telegram channel on July 29.

Due to the intense heat, the territory of the republic was in the zone of thunderstorms. This was the reason for the outbreak of forest fires, the Aviation Security Service explained. According to the Federal Forestry Agency, fires in the region are being eliminated by about 200 people and over 20 pieces of equipment. More than 50 more paratroopers and paratroopers from the Federal Aviation Security Service were sent to help the region.

— According to forecast data, during August, increased risks of exceeding the long—term average parameters of fire danger are possible throughout the republic, - noted in the Aviation Security Service.

Forest fires in Tuva are difficult to extinguish, since they occur in areas where there are practically no roads, and many foci are located in mountainous areas, because the ridges and spurs of the Sayan and Altai Mountains cover more than 80% of the territory of the republic.

If there are suitable clouds in the areas of forest fires, the pilots will carry out work on artificial precipitation and precipitation intensification to help groups working on the ground in extinguishing. There is no threat to settlements, the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the region assured Izvestia.

Wildfires have also engulfed the south of the country. So, their area in the Gelendzhik forestry increased to 12 hectares, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. More than 130 people and 24 pieces of equipment are engaged in extinguishing. It is complicated by hot and dry weather and mountainous terrain.

Earlier this weekend, specialists dealt with a fire on 20 hectares in the Simferopol region of Crimea and prevented its spread to three settlements. In addition, in Feodosia, the fire was stopped 100 meters from the city, said Dmitry Kovalenko, Deputy head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Crimea. Dry vegetation and forest floor were on fire.

How will the fire season develop?

During the summer peak, forest fires are caused by thunderstorms, but most of them are caused by humans, experts said.

The further course of the season largely depends on what the weather will be like, says Grigory Kuksin, founder of the Center for the Prevention of Landscape Fires.

— It will depend on how much the forest and forest floor will dry out, how easily it will catch fire, — explained Kuksin to Izvestia. — However, the forest does not light up on its own. The natural cause is lightning. They will give about 10% of fires, although they will be difficult because they sometimes strike where it is difficult to reach. But most fires remain man-made.

In August, fire danger is possible throughout the country, the expert added.

— We are already seeing fires in the southern regions. As a rule, the squares there are small, but these are iconic areas for tourists. In addition, there is an immediate threat to human settlements," he explained.

In addition, peat fires flare up during this period, Grigory Kuksin added.

— Peat bogs begin to burn in the spring, they slowly smolder, then the foci gain strength and depth by the second half of summer. Therefore, it seems to many people that peat fires suddenly occur in August," he explained.

According to him, intensive work is underway to extinguish similar fires in different regions, including Buryatia and the Ryazan Region.

The fire danger index is now at its maximum in the north of the European part of the country, in the Northwestern Federal District, Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center, told Izvestia. According to him, this is due to the displacement of the anticyclone there.

— The weather is cloudy, and the daylight duration is very long. Just a week ago, there was a polar day in the Murmansk region, now the daylight is about 21 hours. The sun is above the horizon for a long time, it warms the underlying surface. Besides, the temperature is high without precipitation," he explained.

At the same time, the vegetation in these regions is such that the natural fire risk is higher than in temperate latitudes. According to Roman Vilfand, this is due to the spread of conifers.

An extreme fire danger is now also being recorded in the Irkutsk region, in certain territories of the southern European part of the country, he added. The Khabarovsk Territory, Primorye, and Amur Region also experienced hot weather, but precipitation reduces the fire risk.