Fire in Siberia: causes and actions of the government

In the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation, the territory covered by the raging fire element occupied 1,180 square kilometers. The fire in Siberia turned into a real disaster, with which rescuers and firefighters fought.

The frightening reports for the spring of 2015

The District Forestry Department provided statistical data. According to the report, from the first spring days in different parts of the forests of Transbaikalia, the republics of Buryatia and Tyva, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Chita and Irkutsk regions - a total area of 336,300 hectares - 969 fires were recorded.

The number of victims was 30 people. The settlements that completely destroyed the fire are estimated in dozens. As a result of the disaster, 5,000 people now do not have a roof over their heads. The fiery front swiftly swept along neighboring Mongolia and approached the borders of the PRC. Forest fires in Siberia were particularly devastating.

How did the events unfold?

On April 12, it became known that fires were spreading rapidly over Khakassia, taking on an alarming scale. It all began with the fact that the local residents burned the dry grass of last year with an old habit. As a result, the fire quickly spread to the buildings of nearby settlements. Rapid expansion in no small measure contributed to a strong wind. For only one night, 1200 residential buildings burned out, while 15 people were listed as dead. The fire in Siberia was extinguished by all fire protection units, and rescuers worked.

The rate of increase in the area covered by fire amounted to tens of thousands of hectares per day. Aviation, designed to extinguish the fire, could not be activated due to the powerful wind. The situation became so serious that the authorities were forced to introduce a state of emergency until May . All attempts to eliminate hotbeds by the forestry protection service could not be called successful. Only had time to put out in one place, as immediately there was a fire in the other.

Causes of fires in Siberia

A number of factors, among which dry air and strong wind, explains why from year to year fires break out in Siberia. As it was already written above, the inhabitants of agricultural areas became accustomed to the burning of dry grass with the advent of spring. The land adjoins the forests in which different types of trees grow. Therefore, ignition occurs quite easily, and not necessarily from the smoldering logs left by tourists or a butt, but even from lightning.

Although in this case, the Russian president was offered a version, according to which arsonists from the political opposition staged arsons. Nobody wants to admit that the fire in Siberia was due to human negligence.

How to save Siberia?

Forest fire specialists (almost 3 thousand people) and fire- fighting equipment (more than 500 units) were involved in forest fire extinguishing . In addition, they were assisted by army units and aviation. The huge area of fires in Siberia caused panic among local residents.

The authorities promised the fire victims to compensate the material damage in the amount of 100 thousand rubles. Everyone who applied for help, which in terms of foreign currency is slightly more than 1 thousand "green". This money was issued a month after the signing of the relevant decree. It took literally seven days for humanitarian aid to arrive in time for the victims . In order to prevent fires, as well as to prevent unnecessary victims, the following measures were introduced:

• Strict ban on the sale of spirits and hiking in the forest;
• Young men of conscript age will not be temporarily called into the army;
• Granting the pre-emption right to admission and education in high schools of children who lost their parents due to a fire.

By the end of the summer in Khakassia was built 2 thousand houses. The residents of the affected areas were told that it was not worth waiting for special services or servicemen to clear up the rubble. Proposals were made to organize a subbotnik.

The causes of chaos

From many years of experience, it can be seen that people are not trained in the basics of extinguishing fires. There are no concepts of compliance with fire safety standards. Life, as they say, does not teach anything. As soon as trouble strikes, rescue operations are carried out extremely unorganized, chaotic. In most cases, the population is evacuated untimely. People remain face to face with the elements. That is why the area of forest fires in Siberia was so large.

Whatever it was, the fires continue to blaze annually (in spring and summer), although by common efforts it is possible to limit them and reduce the area. Every time the population pins huge hopes on heavy rain. The culprit of fires in 2015 has already been determined. He was Ruslan Balagur, who led the State Forest Service in Transbaikalia. He was detained in the city of Chita, charged with being negligent.

Attention from the President of the Russian Federation

The head of state personally got acquainted with the situation, he did this on April 21. Putin talked with those who were left without shelter due to a fire. They were given the opportunity to temporarily stay in a shelter, which was also visited by the president. This event was covered by the First TV Channel. The whole of Russia sympathized with the families of the deceased. Siberia extinguished the fire with all the forces that were sent from all regions of the country on the orders of the president.

Vladimir Putin, in particular, drew attention to the responsibility of managers, and the fault should have been established on the basis of a thorough investigation. In a relaxed atmosphere, chatting over a cup of tea and taking home pies, the head of the country urged the representatives of the local administration to simplify bureaucratic schemes when restoring documents. It was pointed out that the state of fire-fighting measures was unsatisfactory. Despite the fact that every year there are large-scale fires, the necessary conclusions have not been made.

On the eve of his departure, the president instructed the leaders of the Trans-Baikal region to ensure by September that all those who needed it live permanently. And the main purpose of the next visit will be to check the execution of the instruction. Today the fire in Siberia is stopped, but it is possible that next year the situation may recur.