It's a dangerous time in the Almaty mountains. Because of the hot weather and human carelessness, forest fires often break out. A few days ago, a fire broke out in the Kimasar Gorge - dead wood caught fire. Detecting a fire and signaling it is the job of aviation rescuers. This service monitors the situation on a daily basis. Correspondents of the newspaper "Vremya” also went to the raid with her.

Flights are carried out up to three times a day. Therefore, if you notice a corncorn plying in the sky, know that it is not the coronavirus that is being sprayed, but they, the air rescuers, are on duty again. Like kites, they look keenly from a height to see if there is an uncontrolled fire anywhere.

We are loading on board the ”Annushka". Patrolling the area by plane is cheaper than taking a helicopter into the sky. And although the aircraft looks like a museum exhibit, we are assured that its filling is the most modern and the An-2 will be on the move for a long time. The crew consists of two pilots and an observer pilot. On it, the construction and adjustment of the route, observation, communication with each forestry enterprise over which the plane flies, and in case of fire detection, assessment and call of fire brigades. How many people will be needed to extinguish, where the fire can move - he must evaluate everything. Information about the fire is transmitted by radio and through a special mobile application.

The work is not easy - with a high class of fire danger, there are several departures per day. But there is nowhere to study as an observer pilot in Kazakhstan. You have to go to Russia for a diploma and advanced training.

Under the supervision of "Kazavialesookhrana” 8 million 869 thousand hectares in the republic (about 30 percent of the total forest fund of the country). There are 15 divisions operating. Each has its own routes approved for patrolling. The schedule is drawn up according to the fire hazard class. It is calculated daily according to a special formula with an eye to weather conditions. Now in Almaty, taking into account the hot weather, the fifth, highest class of fire danger. In first class, they do not fly at all, except for a message about a fire. If precipitation falls in the region up to 5 millimeters, the class is reduced.

Ten routes have been approved in the Almaty aviation department. These are mountainous areas of the Trans-Ili Alatau, tugai forests of the Ili River. 672 thousand hectares fall on forestry enterprises of the Almaty region. The length of the route sometimes reaches 850 kilometers.

The time in the air for one flight sometimes takes up to four and a half hours. AN-2 can fly at low altitude (up to 700 meters) at a speed of 180 kilometers per hour. This allows the observer pilot to see every detail of the landscape. With the help of such patrols, it is possible to intercept up to 20 fires per day.

- To date, 445 fires have been recorded in the republic. And in 90 percent of cases, a person is to blame for their occurrence. These are campfires of vacationers and fishermen, agricultural fires (deliberate arson of dry grass in the fields. - Yu. Z.). But recently there have been many cases when the cause of the fire is a dry thunderstorm. There is no rain, and lightning strikes the trees. I think this is due to global warming. This began to happen even on Kolsai. Thunderstorms are a frequent cause of forest fires," says Talgat ALIYEV, Acting Director General of Kazavialesoohrana.

More often it burns in the steppe. There is more moisture in the mountains, but if it lights up there, then the task becomes more complicated. There is a vertical thrust, and the fire spreads even faster. And getting to the place of ignition is much more difficult.

When extinguishing fires in mountainous areas, you can not do without aviation. In this case, first-class helicopters with external suspension are used.

Thus, up to five tons of water can be brought to the place of ignition. They are drained from the air to the edge of the fire.

Dmitry NEKRASOV, co-pilot.
- Sometimes you have to land on the line of fire and firefighters. In the mountains, sometimes you have to descend from a height of 40 meters. Constant training helps to keep yourself in shape, neither experience nor seniority release you from them. In the season, five descents are carried out, gradually increasing the height. The pilot-observer also trains accuracy - the water supply should clearly fall on the source of ignition, - explains the head of the Almaty aviation department Bauyrzhan TULEPBERGENOV.

About one and a half thousand forest fires occur in the country every year. One of the largest this year occurred in the East Kazakhstan region. The fire engulfed 20 hectares of forest in the Semey Ormany Reserve.

INSTEAD OF P.S.

The message about the ignition of dry grass on the slope in the Kimasar gorge in the emergency department of Almaty was received on July 25 at about 20.00. 100 firefighters, more than 10 pieces of equipment, a mounted patrol, 60 inspectors of the Ile-Alatau National Park, 18 employees of the rescue service and "Kazavialesookhrana” were sent to the scene.

It was not possible to use fire fighting equipment and aviation at night because of the steepness of the slope. Therefore, firefighters had to get to the source of the fire on foot. It became clear on the spot: dry grass on an area of 0.06 hectares caught fire.

Satchel fire extinguishers were used for extinguishing "Ermak”, firecrackers and shovels. In order to prevent the spread of fire, firefighters plowed the places of ignition.

To abandon the use of open fire in the mountains, residents and guests of Almaty are again asked by the specialists of the Emergency Department. And they remind of a fine of 100 MCI for individuals for violating fire safety requirements in specially protected natural territories (in accordance with Part 3 of Article 367 of the Administrative Code of Kazakhstan).

Yulia ZENG, photo by Elena MOROZOVA, Emergency Department of Almaty and Kazavialesoohrana

https://time.kz/articles/reporter/2022/07/27/nad-ognyom