Devastating forest fires raged in many areas of Russia in the summer of 2010, including some regions with heavy radioactive contamination resulting from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Through its Social and Medical Care programme, Green Cross Switzerland has been providing aid to these areas for many years to help the affected population to help themselves. Because radionuclides generated by the combustion of contaminated wood could easily be spread by wind and ash across widespread areas, a study on the hazards of the effects of forest fires in the radioactively contaminated Chernobyl region was initiated in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Vladimir. M. Kusnetsow.

Detailed information on the analyses that were conducted is available for downloading here.

Link PDF study:

Fire Hazard Assessment for the Forests Located in the Radiation-Contaminated Areas of Bryansk Region of the Russian Federation, Moscow-Bryansk 2011 (536 KB)