The emergency response team of Rosleskhoz requested regional authorities of the Central Federal District to intensify monitoring of forest fire danger due to the unfavorable forecast

The emergency response team of Rosleskhoz requested regional authorities of the Central Federal District to intensify monitoring of forest fire danger and wildfires.

In view of the agricultural harvesting, drying up of dry vegetation on agricultural lands, municipalities’ lands and other lands, including on the areas adjacent to the forest fund, in the regions of the Central Federal District there are potential threats of grass fires and moving fire to the forest, residential areas and economic facilities.

The risk of wildfires also increases because of people are busy with gathering of wild plants (mushrooms, cranberries, cowberries, herbs and other forest gifts).

Currently, the Wildfire Remote Monitoring Information System of Rosleskhoz has recorded the heat spots on the territory of the Central Federal District identified by regional dispatching services of forestry as agricultural burnings.

Since the beginning of year, because of the grass fires there were 21 wildfires in the regions of the Central Federal District. Another 12 fires have occurred as a result of the fire transition from the lands of other categories and linear-type facilities. In the spring period the regional fire brigades responded several times to the grass fires in order to prevent wildfires. Thus, only in the Ryazan Region the staff of the Fire Center had 102 responses.

In November 2015 in order to prevent uncontrolled burning of dry grass the Government Decree No.1213 has amended the Rules for Fire Safety Arrangements in the Russian Federation. In particular, a prohibition on an unauthorized burning of dry vegetation on agricultural lands and reserve lands, on making fires in the fields was imposed. Also it is prohibited to burn dry vegetation, combustible materials, to make fires in road reservations, rights of way and protected zones of railways, viaducts and product pipelines.

For an unauthorized burning of dry vegetation there is a responsibility in compliance with the Article 20.4 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation, which provides for, in respect of individuals, a warning or an administrative fine in the amount of one thousand to one thousand five hundred rubles, in respect of the officials, a fine ranging from six thousand to fifteen thousand, and in respect of legal entities, a fine ranging from one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand rubles. The violations of fire safety rules committed during the period of special fire safety arrangements are resulted in the imposition of an administrative fine: for individuals, in the amount of two thousand to four thousand rubles; for officials – from fifteen thousand to thirty thousand rubles; for legal entities – from four hundred thousand to five hundred thousand rubles.

Upon the information received from the executive authorities in the area of forestry relations in regions of CFD, since the beginning of fire season more than 40 thousand patrol raids were carried out, 2623 violations of fire safety rules in forests were detected, there were 2674 cases following which the administrative reports were drawn up and administrative fines under the Article 8.32 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation were imposed.

As of August 8, on the entire territory of Voronezh, Ivanovo, Lipetsk, Moscow, Ryazan, Tambov, Tver Regions, 18 districts of the Kaluga Region, 8 districts of the Smolensk Region, and 3 districts of the Yaroslavl Region the special fire safety arrangements exist.

Over the entire territory of the Voronezh and Oryol Regions, 1 district of the Kaluga Region, and 1 district of the Yaroslavl Region it is prohibited for people to visit forests and for vehicles to drive into the forests.

According to forecast for the next two days, on the territory of some regions of the Central Federal District it is expected that the wildfire danger class on weather conditions is increased to high class (in the Belgorod and Smolensk Regions). On the territory of the Kursk Region the extreme fire danger is expected locally.

In accordance with the long-term forecast for August, on the entire Kursk Region, in the northern part of the Belgorod Region, in the southern part of the Oryol Region the increase in the mean annual fire danger parameters is expected.

Since the beginning of this year, as of August 8, in the Central Federal District there were 266 wildfires (as of the same date of the last year – 381 fires). Only 1% of them were the “storm fires”, 4,5% - the fire spreading to the forest from linear-type facilities and lands of other categories, nearly 8% of fires were the result of illegal burning of dry grass. About 50% of fires have occurred due to violation of fire safety rules in forests. The reason of other fires is to be confirmed.

The emergency response team of Rosleskhoz requested the executive authorities in the area of forestry relations to consider at the next meetings of the Committee for Emergency Response and Fire Safety the issue of intensifying the monitoring of fire danger and wildfires, including the forest and adjacent territories patrolling by interagency teams. They are also requested to ensure the timely introduction of special conditions in the forests.

The Forestry Department of the Central Federal District is requested to tighten control over the forest fire situation on the territory of the District’s regions.