During the day, forest fire services across the Russian Federation reported success in extinguishing a total of 69 forest fires. This information was released by the press office of Avialesookhrany, the state aerial forest protection service.
The ministry disclosed that on May 19, 2023, forest fire departments, together with related personnel, managed to extinguish 69 separate forest fires across 25 regions, covering an area of 1,448 hectares that had been burned or were actively burning. The coordinated effort involved ground crews, incident command posts, and aerial support, highlighting the scale of the challenge and the effectiveness of rapid, organized response in diverse terrain.
By 00:00 on May 20, the situation had evolved, with 60 forest fires identified across 1,699 hectares and all fires subsequently brought under control and actively extinguished. The Sverdlovsk region faced the most difficult conditions, recording 28 fires across about 1,100 hectares. In that area, local crews worked around the clock to create firebreaks, deploy water and foam solutions, and monitor containment lines to prevent flare-ups that could threaten nearby communities and critical ecosystems.
In a separate development, officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources in Transbaikalia reported a troubling case involving arson. A local resident admitted to deliberately starting a blaze in a way that led to significant financial damage to the state. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about intentional fire setting and its far-reaching consequences for public safety, wildlife, forestry, and regional economies dependent on stable forest management.
Further details indicate that the arson began when a neighbor set a mower on fire on April 15, with the flames spreading to adjacent forested areas. The incident illustrates how seemingly small acts can escalate into widespread wildfires under dry conditions, emphasizing the need for strong community awareness, timely reporting, and strict enforcement of fire safety rules in rural and peri-urban areas. Firefighters responded with rapid containment measures, and investigators are pursuing accountability for the damage caused by the deliberate act, aiming to deter future incidents and protect both natural resources and residents living near forested zones.