Residents of the village Kriusha asked the prime minister how their homes would be rebuilt and how much floor space they could expect. Mr Putin replied that they would have as much space as they had before but no smaller than what was required by sanitary standards. The people who prefer monetary compensation will receive an amount based on the size of their burnt homes and the current market price of one square metre. "We cannot rebuild every palatial house of a thousand square metres. Those who had such large spaces will receive the maximum compensation, which is two million roubles," the prime minister said.

When a woman said she was going to buy a flat for 2.5 million roubles with a compensation of only 1.6 million, the prime minister directly asked the regional governor to intervene. Another resident said his home was destroyed in the fire before he received papers confirming his ownership. "They say I have no chance," the man said in despair. "You have a chance. You merely need to confirm that you lived there. Address the village council. People there know who lived where," Putin reassured him.

The fire victims complained that the village still had no fire engine while the risk of fires persisted. Putin said that the government had passed a decision for the purchase of more fire engines. He promised that the village would receive a new kindergarten, school and sports centre.

The fire of July 29 left 126 people homeless and destroyed 52 houses, a post office, a school, two shops and several dozen other buildings.

From Kriusha, Mr Putin went to the village of Polyana, which has a population of 1,100 and now accommodates homeless people from Kriusha and other villages.

As the prime minister approached a new house, near which residents had gathered, he said that Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov had promised to help with reconstruction and dispatch Moscow construction workers to the Ryazan Region. The prime minister visited Flat No. 72, where the Isaikin family was living after their own home was destroyed by fire. He asked about the size of the house and whether they were comfortable. "The house was about fifty square metres, and we have received about the same space, so we are satisfied," Lyubov Isaikina answered. The family asked Mr Putin to visit them again.