VIDEO. Siberia and the Urals are Burning: Major Forest Fire

The forest of the southern Ural State Nature Reserve in Bashkortostan is burning across an area of seven hectares, as reported by the region's emergency situations ministry.

According to the agency, the forest fire started on Monday evening, 6 kilometers away from the village of Aygir. A team of 20 people has been dispatched to the site of the fire.

"Upon arrival, it was determined that the fire occurred on the right bank of the Mali Inzer River, on the slopes of the Mali Yamantau Mountain. The area is difficult to access, and vehicles cannot pass through there. The fire could not be localized until nightfall, and strong winds have also contributed to the spread of the fire along the mountain slope," the report stated.

Rescuers noted that the fire does not threaten residential areas as there is a natural barrier—the river. The wind is blowing from the direction of the village.