Thirteen instances of forest fires reported in Buryatia region
In Buryatia, Russia, the latest update on the ongoing forest fires indicates that as of July 5, 2025, there are currently 13 active forest fires, covering an area of approximately 12,370 hectares. This makes Buryatia the most affected area in Russia at present in terms of forest fires[1].
Across Russia, there are 31 active fire outbreaks in total, covering 13,913 hectares. This represents a significant reduction compared to previous days, showing some progress in containment efforts[1].
The fires in Buryatia are being tackled by more than 620 people and 72 firefighting teams. Fortunately, these fires are reported not to threaten populated areas[1]. The efforts to extinguish the fires also involve 50 specialists from Irkutsk and hired personnel.
A state of emergency is currently in effect in the forest fund of Buryatia. To aid in the firefighting efforts, 103 federal reserve personnel, 50 Tumen aviation base employees, 43 from Khabarovsk, 12 from Kirov, 20 from Arkhangelsk, 16 from Perm, and 10 from Vologda are among those participating[1].
The forest fires in Buryatia and neighboring Transbaikalia have been part of an extensive fire season that started early in 2025, with massive areas burned since spring. According to reports, nearly 3 million hectares have been affected across Russia, primarily in Transbaikalia and Buryatia districts[2][3].
Three new forest fires were discovered in the Eravinsky and Pribaikal districts over the past 24 hours. Two of these fires were localized in the Bauntovsky Evenki and Kяхtinsky districts, covering an area of 751 hectares. Two hotspots were extinguished in the Barguzin, Bauntovsky, Evenki, Kizhinginsky, and Pribaikal districts, covering a total area of 17,489 hectares[1].
On July 4, there were 15 active forest fires in Buryatia, while on July 3, there were 20 active forest fires. On July 2, the number of active forest fires increased to 32, and on July 1, there were 38 active forest fires[1].
The RALH has issued a reminder about the state of emergency, urging the public to adhere to fire safety regulations and avoid any activities that could potentially spark new fires[1].
[1] Buryatia Ministry of Emergency Situations, Press Release, July 5, 2025. [2] Transbaikal Regional Government, Press Release, May 15, 2025. [3] Buryatia Regional Government, Press Release, June 10, 2025.
- The fires in Buryatia, a significant environmental-science concern, are being fought by a large team including local personnel, specialists from other regions, and federal reserve personnel, in an attempt to limit the spread of the fires, particularly during this season of increased weather volatility.
- Despite the progress made in containing the fires across Russia, the latest data from Buryatia reveals a worrying trend: the number of active forest fires has been steadily increasing since early July, underscoring the need for continued focus on scientific approaches to both preventing and managing these disasters.
