MOSCOW, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- An amphibious fire-fighting plane flew over peat bog fires Wednesday in the Moscow region, helping to contain them.

Itar-Tass reported that about 15 hectares (37 acres) of woodland and bog continued to burn at four sites around Moscow.

The amphibious plane, a BE-200, was used for the first time in fire-fighting in the Moscow region, and helicopters also were involved. Officials said that the aircraft have made fire-fighting efforts far more effective, reducing the size of the fires compared to earlier years.

On Tuesday, 38 cars were involved in a chain-reaction collision near Vladimir caused by thick smoke generated by the fires.