Russian wildfires burn 124 acres of land

ULAN-UDE, Russia, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Seven forest fires in the Siberian republic of Buryatia in Russia have burned more than 124 acres, the local forestry department said Monday.

A spokesman for the department said firefighters put out 12 forest fires over the weekend, but strong winds and record temperatures sparked a new wave of fires.

The fires pose no threat the residential areas, he added.

In 2010, deadly wildfires in Russia killed more than 50 people, destroyed thousands of houses, burned 6.4 million acres of woods and eliminated a quarter of the country's grain harvest, RIA Novosti said.