According to experts, the major reason for these forest fires is dry thunder-storms prevalent in the region this summer. Numerous forest service groups, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and local volunteers, among them even Baikal tourists are fighting the fires.

      Over a day and night fires on the area of 2.5 thousand hectares have been extinguished. Altogether the area of forest fires in the Irkutsk Region has fallen by one half.

Sources: http://irkutsk.sibnovosti.ru