Russia beats back fires as heat wave gives way to storm

RUSSIA yesterday said it was beating back the country’s worst ever wildfires, including one close to a secret nuclear site, as thunderstorms and torrential rain drenched parts of the parched country.

The peat and forest fires in central Russia have killed more than 50 people and raised concerns about the security of potentially dangerous strategic sites.

A huge worry has been fires in a nature reserve close to Russia’s main nuclear research centre in Sarov – a town closed to foreigners – but the authorities said they had taken a major step to resolving the crisis.