April 15, 2012 - 17:20 AMT
900 hectares of forests burning in Siberia

Over 900 hectares of forests are on fire in Siberia, the Emergencies Ministry’s regional center reported on Sunday, April 15, RIA Novosti reported.

“Seventy hot spots of forest fires at an area of 18,687 hectares (46,177 acres) are active. Twenty four of them at an area of 9,307 hectares have been contained,” the center said.

Wildfires across Russia are common, especially during dry and hot summers and in the fall. Most fires start because of the careless behavior of local residents.

Two years ago forest fires devastated a number of regions in central Russia, killing over 60 people and leaving thousands homeless.