In the Irkutsk region, forest fires have spread over more than 21 thousand hectares, with outbreaks in several districts, but the fire does not threaten settlements. Additional forces from other regions have been brought in to fight it, and a state of emergency remains in effect, limiting stays in forests and increasing fines. In the coming days, forecasters promise dry and hot weather, which raises the risk of new fires.
The fire has engulfed more than 21,000 hectares. Fires are active in the Zhigalovsky, Irkutsky, Kachugsky, and Olkhonsky districts. As reported by the regional government press service, three fires have already been contained over a total area of 169 hectares. The fire does not threaten populated areas. According to the regional forestry agency, the efficiency of extinguishing fires during the first day is 82%.As noted by the acting head of the agency, Sergey Tarasyuk, additional forces arrived in the region today to fight the fires - more than 500 paratrooper firefighters, including from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, the Republic of Khakassia, Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk, and Zabaykalsky krais. In total, about 1,350 people and 130 special pieces of equipment, including 11 aircraft, are involved in extinguishing the fires.
Sergey Tarasyuk also emphasized that, due to the state of emergency in the Irkutsk Region, the presence in forests of citizens engaged in hunting, fishing, gathering wild plants, as well as tourists, is restricted. To protect populated areas in the Kachugsky and Olkhonsky districts, additional EMERCOM posts have been set up, with about 500 people and more than 200 units of equipment working. Since a state of emergency is in effect in the region, the amount of fines has been doubled. The maximum fine for legal entities is 400,000 rubles, for individuals - 40,000 rubles.
Since the beginning of the forest fire season, 1,800 administrative cases have been opened in the Irkutsk Region.
Since the start of the fire-dangerous period, 1,494 fires have been registered in the Irkutsk Region, with a total area of just over 250,000 hectares. Compared with the same period in 2014, the number of fires decreased by 644 cases, and the total area by 466,000 hectares.
In the coming days, dry, hot weather is expected, a high fire danger class is forecast, and there is a threat of new fires.
Recall that the head of Russia’s EMERCOM flew to Irkutsk on August 14 because of the difficult fire situation in the region. He made an aerial survey of the areas of the Irkutsk Region where forest fires are active. This was followed by a meeting with the participation of regional authorities. Vladimir Puchkov criticized the work of regional agencies in extinguishing the fires, paying special attention to protected lands, and instructed the regional authorities to “put out all fires within three days.” At the time of his order, on August 14, there were 25 fires in the region covering an area of 51,200 hectares. Local authorities were unable to carry out the minister’s instruction. Three days later, the area of forest fires was 30,000 hectares.