OREANDA-NEWS. July 15, 2010. Acting Head of the Republic of Karelia Andrei Nelidov has signed the order of the government of the Republic on introduction of emergency situation regime in territory of the republic.

Emergency situation regime in Karelia is introduced in view of forest fires and heat wave. In forest resources of the republic there has been registered 17 forest fires on total area exceeding 170 hectares. Special tension is observed in Kalevala, Kostomuksha, Muezersky and Suojarvi regions. Most of forest fires are caused by local population.

In order to prevent origins of new forest fires, further spread of current fires and acceleration of their extinguishing since July 13, 2010 in territory of the Republic of Karelia there has been introdiced the emergency situation regime of operation of machinery of the government and forces of the territorial sub-system of Russian Unified Emergency Rescue Service.

According to the Forestry Code of Russia, it has been decided to restrain citizens' stay in the forest in territory of the Republic of Karelia, including for the purposes of hunting and fishing.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Republic of Karelia from July, 13 and until further notice is offered to organize joint sentries on the roads leading to the woodland to prevent visits of the population to the woods.

Bodies of local government of the republic are recommended to render assistance in suppression of forest fires, to involve equipment and employees of organizations disregard of patterns of ownership for fire extinguishing.

The State Committee of the Republic of Karelia for Life Support and Safety of Population is charged with taking measures to admit no spread of forest fires to inhabited localities, to provide readyness of reserve contingent and equipment of fire-fighting units, as well as volunteer fire brigades. The State Committee calls al citizens of Karelia to be very carefull and cautious with fire.

Valery Momotov, Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Karelia, is entrusted to supervise fulfilment of the order.