Naujienos

A space satellite performs the role of a fire tower. In the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area the information about seats of fire in taiga now comes to Emergencies Ministry officers straight from the space. It has to be admitted, though, that fire-extinguishing equipment remains unchanged. 
[Correspondent] Only three minutes are given to clear a landing site for a helicopter. This brigade has been staying in the woods for over a week. It is re-deployed from one fire to another without a break. The today one is the third in a row.
This year, scientists are assisting the airborne fire-fighting unit for the first time. The Ugra Research Institute of Information Technologies have launched a programme of environmental monitoring. Information about fires is received straight from the satellite. Red spots on the map indicate the fire seats.
[Vladimir Khamedov, captioned as senior researcher of the Ugra Institute of Information Technologies] We receive fresh information and send it for processing every 1-1.5 hours. The satellite can spot places where temperature is unusually high. The fire-fighters and the forestry department for the area of Malaya Ugra are immediately informed by telegrams.
[Correspondent] This red spot on the computer monitor indicates a new seat of fire located 120 km southward of Khanty-Mansiysk. After satellite-provided data is confirmed by aerial reconnaissance, a team of six fire-fighters is parachuted on the scene. 

Source: RTR Russia TV, Moscow
BBC Monitoring