RUSSIA: GOVERNMENT ASKS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH FIRES

The Russian government has appealed to volunteers to help fire fighters with the wildfire emergency situation. “Anyone willing to help can call their regional emergency hotline”, stated a ministry official, adding that three toll-free numbers have been set up. The situation in Russia is dire; this morning Moscow was engulfed in black smoke from the fires that have been raging across the western side of the country for over a week.