Dmitry Medvedev drew attention to the fires in Siberia

At a government meeting Dmitry Medvedev sharply criticized Rosleskhoz, regional authorities and the Emergencies Ministry for preventing forest fires, noting that unique forests burn every year in Siberia. The worst situation is in Buryatia, Tuva, Irkutsk Region, Zabaykalsky Krai and Chukotka, but there is no threat to settlements. Vladimir Puchkov said thousands of rescuers, Emergencies Ministry and Defense Ministry aircraft are involved in firefighting, and a large operation continues in Irkutsk Region, where more than 47 thousand hectares are burning. The report also covers penalties for forest tenants and investigations into the fires.

Forest fires in Siberia were discussed at a meeting of the Russian government chaired by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The head of the cabinet emphasized the ineffective work of Rosleskhoz, local authorities, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations in preventing forest fires, the press service of the Russian government reports.
The most severe situation with forest fires has been recorded in Buryatia, Tuva, the Irkutsk Region, the Trans-Baikal Territory, and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Dmitry Medvedev noted, stressing that there is no threat to populated areas.
"Every year we have unique forests burning - burning over vast areas, in the territories of nature reserves and national parks, and at the same time, unfortunately, tragedies occur, people die. The work on preventing forest fires on the part of Rosleskhoz, regional authorities, local authorities, and, finally, the Ministry of Emergency Situations is still very far from effective. Forests are, of course, a renewable resource, but over a very long period of time, and it is unacceptable to treat their annual loss from fires so carelessly. Fires in unique natural areas occur every year," Dmitry Medvedev said.
The head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Vladimir Puchkov, briefed the prime minister on the situation in Siberia and the Far East. According to him, a grouping of forces and resources of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations numbering more than 2.76 thousand people and more than 850 pieces of equipment has been deployed to protect populated areas and economic facilities. Five Mi-8 helicopters of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations are ready to be used to extinguish fires in the Siberian Federal District.
"A ground grouping of forces has been formed, aviation of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Defense is operating, the situation is under control. Reinforcement of the grouping has been planned taking into account the weather forecast in the Amur and Irkutsk regions and in Yakutia," the ministry's press service quotes the minister as saying.
The minister also said that it is necessary to increase the responsibility of owners and tenants of forest plots and land holdings for ensuring the fire safety condition of leased lands and extinguishing fires.
Vladimir Puchkov will visit the Irkutsk Region today, August 14. He will hold a meeting of the emergency commission, meet with volunteers, and make an aerial survey of the territory.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, more than 47 thousand hectares are currently burning in the Irkutsk Region. The day before, 13 airplanes and helicopters began extinguishing forest fires in eight districts of the Irkutsk Region. The equipment was provided by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Russian Ministry of Defense, and the Irkutsk Region forestry agency.
It was previously reported that the deputy prosecutor of the Irkutsk Region issued a warning to Sergei Tarasyuk, who is temporarily serving as the head of the forestry agency of the Angara region. This concerns the inadmissibility of violating the requirements of legislation on the need to take timely and complete measures to extinguish forest fires in the region. This situation is under the control of the supervisory authority.
It should be noted that since the beginning of the fire season in the Irkutsk Region, 78 criminal cases have been opened over forest fires. In addition, another 255 pre-investigation check materials are under inquiry. Administrative liability in the form of fines totaling more than four million rubles has been imposed on 1.7 thousand people.