EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN AND ALTAI KRAI LEARN TOGETHER TO EXTINGUISH FOREST FIRES

Large-scale cross-border fire-fighting exercises were held in East Kazakhstan in the adjacent territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Altai Territory of the Russian Federation.

Fires have no boundaries. Therefore, it is important to work out joint actions in order to resist the fiery element with joint efforts.

Firefighters of the two countries were faced with the task of coping with a simulated forest fire on the territory of the Polyansky forestry of the Morozovsky branch of the State Institution "State Forest Natural Reserve" Semey Ormany ”.

As the deputy akim of the East Kazakhstan region Bakytzhan Bayakhmetov, who was present at the exercises, noted: "Such large-scale trainings are needed to improve actions in case of large forest fires."

The terrain for the exercises was chosen to be appropriate, difficult to pass, characterized by elevation changes, sandy soil and a wooded area. The duration of the fire hazardous season is 204 days a year.

By design, a dry lightning discharge led to a fire. There was a threat of spread and transition to a riding fire. A gusty wind reaching 12.5 m / s led to the possible development of a fire in the nearby village of Yernazar, as well as in the adjacent territory of the Stepno-Mikhailovsky forestry enterprise of the Altai Territory of the Russian Federation. The population of these villages was promptly evacuated, the victims were assisted by doctors of the branch of the East Kazakhstan region of the Center for Disaster Medicine.

55 people and 164 units of equipment of rescuers of East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar region, aviation forestry, specialists of Semey Ormany, Ertis Ormany, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, military unit 68303 took part in the elimination of the simulated fire.

For efficiency in the fight against fire, the rescuers of the Emergencies Ministry of the East Kazakhstan region used the MI-8 helicopter of the regional akimat with a spillway device.

A difficult and many-hour fight with fire, the efforts of rescuers, foresters of both sides allowed to extinguish the fire on an area of ​​280 hectares and prevent the fire from spreading.

While hostilities were unfolding in East Kazakhstan, the Russian side monitored the process of extinguishing online and coordinated its actions.

"All conditions for the exercise were close to the real situation. Conducting joint exercises in the border area makes it possible to assess the bilateral readiness of emergency departments, forestry departments of Russia and Kazakhstan to the outbreak of wildfires. Suppression of transboundary fires demonstrates the level of coherence of actions of the two countries. The issue of crossing the borders of states in the event of an emergency has been agreed, which makes it possible to quickly eliminate the threat, ”noted Yuri Volkov, head of the 9th fire and rescue team of the Russian Emergencies Ministry in the Altai Territory.

"The buildup of forces and assets proceeded in accordance with the evolving situation and in accordance with the plans to attract forces and assets. Such a large-scale training allowed the personnel of civil protection and rescuers, air forest protection, foresters to hone their skills in extinguishing forest and steppe fires, taking into account the threat to populated areas, "said Yerlan Nurpeisov, Head of Emergency Situations of the East Kazakhstan region.