Aerial Forest Protection Service Day is observed in Russia every July 7, commemorating the founding anniversary of Avialesookhrana, the government agency responsible for aerial forest fire management. The origins of this holiday date back to 1931 when the first aerial patrol flight using the U-2 biplane took place in the Nizhny Novgorod region, leading to the detection of 14 forest fires over 1.5 million hectares. The agency has evolved from early experiments with aircraft in the 1930s to a structured service that now monitors fire danger, manages wildfires, and trains specialists like smoke jumpers. Avialesookhrana operates under the Federal Agency for Forestry of the Russian Federation, which is part of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. This day serves to honor the efforts and advancements in aerial forestry protection in Russia.