Forest blazes engulf Buryatia region.
As early July 2025 approaches, **Buryatia in southern Siberia** continues to grapple with a severe forest fire situation. With multiple active fires and extensive firefighting efforts, the region remains one of the most affected by forest fires in Russia, surpassed only by Transbaikalia.
### Causes and Extent
The fires in Buryatia have primarily been caused by lightning strikes and careless handling of fire during outdoor activities, according to reports from June 2025. As of July 5, there are currently 18 active forest fires in the republic, covering approximately 13,468 hectares. This represents a significant escalation from earlier in June, when the total active fire area was around 49.4 hectares.
### Firefighting Efforts
Over 600 people and 72 firefighting teams are engaged in combating the fires in Buryatia alone. Firefighting strategies include the use of ground teams, specialized equipment, and aerial firefighting assets such as helicopters and aircraft. The aviation forest protection service comprises personnel from various regions, including 103 federal reserve personnel, 50 Tumen aviation base employees, 43 specialists from Khabarovsk, 12 from Kirov, 20 from Khabarovsk, 16 from Perm, and 10 from Vologda.
In addition to these efforts, forest protection specialists and volunteers are also involved in fighting the fires. The total number of people fighting the forest fires is 601.
### Context
The severe fire season is linked to extreme weather conditions in the area, with high temperatures, dryness, and gusty winds contributing to rapid fire spread. Satellite monitoring has shown persistent fire hotspots in Buryatia and adjacent regions since May 2025, indicating a prolonged period of fire risk due to climatic and meteorological factors.
### Current Status
Despite the challenging circumstances, the fires do not currently threaten populated areas. The emergency situation regime remains in effect in the forests of Buryatia. The forest protection hotline number is 8 (3012) 20-44-44 for reporting fires.
On July 4, there were 15 active forest fires in the republic, a slight decrease from the 20 active fires reported on July 3. The situation continues to evolve, and the firefighting teams remain vigilant and committed to containing the fires and minimizing their impact on the environment.
The climate-change induced extreme weather conditions, with high temperatures, dryness, and gusty winds, have intensified forest fires in Buryatia, contributing to their rapid spread. The environmental-science community and firefighting teams are working tirelessly with various strategies, including ground teams, specialized equipment, and aerial assets, to combat the 18 active forest fires currently covering approximately 13,468 hectares of Buryatia.
