Exeter student prevents devastating forest fire

An Exeter student has been recognised by Russian emergency services for putting out a forest fire over the summer.

Kristian Fox (2011, Earth Sciences), along with Elisabeth Greenway of New College and Tom Phillips of St Anne’s, was awarded a certificate and letter of appreciation for stopping a potentially devastating forest fire by the Russian Emergencies Ministry in the Perm region.

The students were on a rafting trip when they saw an unattended campfire and poured water on it to extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading. This occurred as they were undertaking a summer internship at Perm State National Research University in Russia that involved rock climbing, rafting and studying the local rocks and plants.