OREANDA-NEWS. July 13, 2011. At present, there are no active forest fires on the areas leased by OJSC Ilim Group in the Irkutsk Oblast . Our company has put out 87 forest fires in the Irkutsk Oblast since the beginning of the fire hazardous season.

It should be reminded that at peaks our company involved up to 362 people to fight the fires, including paratroops and forestry staff. Up to 26 bulldozers, 12 tractors, 31 vehicles for carrying people and cargo, and also 12 trawls to deliver machinery were mobilized in fire fighting. Ilyushin-76 airplane and MI-26 and MI-8 helicopters provided by the Irkutsk Oblast Administration were used. OJSC Ilim Group also took part in putting out fires outside the leased areas. All fire extinguishing operations were coordinated with representatives of forestries and EMERCOM.

Earlier on, before the onset of the fire hazardous season OJSC Ilim Group took all necessary efforts including maintenance of available machinery and purchase of new machinery and made the required stock of oils and lubricants and fire-fighting gear. Fire monitoring headquarters and fire-fighting crews were formed in the Company's forestry branches. Ilim Group's Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk Branches concluded agreements with the Irkutsk Forest Protection Airbase for aerial surveillance of forests and landing operations.

In 2010-2011 the Company spent RUR 180 mln on fire prevention efforts in the Irkutsk Oblast, including the purchase of 5 forest fire-fighting tractors, 4 bulldozers, 5 shift cars, 16 cargo-passenger cars UAZ), 2 hover crafts and radio facilities. 325 km of fire roads were built.