Translated material
Volunteers about the fight against fire in Lake Baikal: "In order to put out everything, 15 thousand people need"
The area of fires in Buryatia and the Irkutsk region exceeds 150 thousand hectares. To put out all the foci, it is necessary to increase the grouping of firefighters at times, volunteers say. Why did the fight against fire dragged on and how to win it? Taiga.info talked with a member of the Irkutsk detachment “15.08” Anatoly Kazakevich.
Recall that the “15.08” detachment helps foresters in extinguishing fires in the Irkutsk region, it was created by local residents and attracts volunteers to their ranks.
Taiga.info: How and with what purposes did you get into the “15.08” detachment?
- I took up the topic of fires before the first exits: we started with the collection and analysis of information, the search for resources. Already in September, we plan to form proposals for the government to improve the fire extinguishing system. Unfortunately, in Moscow, the Ministry of Emergencies did not immediately understand the real situation. People draw conclusions based on reports where abstract thousands of hectares are indicated, and the value of forests and their cross -country ability is not taken into account.
In September, we plan to form proposals for the government to improve the fire extinguishing system
Taiga.info: Is there any change in the situation compared to August 15?
- Yes, the number of volunteers is growing! If the team does not die organizationally, I think that this movement can grow into a very powerful volunteer organization.
Taiga.info: How do firefighters, authorities react to your help?
- I act within the framework of assistance to the authorities in solving a common problem, this is my human position. And, of course, only a positive reaction is coming in advance, because we help. The team is apolitical, but we work in support of the State Staff for Fires. Where necessary - we help the state where necessary - we are. This is a joint work.
Taiga.info: Does the discrepancy of information about the fire with reports of official bodies feel? Can we say that the situation got out of control?
-In the Irkutsk region, more or less all the foci are localized. By Friday [August 28], about 380 thousand hectares of forest burned out there. About 30 thousand hectares are burning at the same time - this is a huge territory. All data are true, but there is largely for the official structures to engage in the coverage of their work in many ways, since everyone plows seven days a week, from 8 in the morning to 12 pm (and some are at the headquarters).
Taiga.info: What do other eyewitnesses say (the same forest guards) about the fire and the fight against him?
- That the forest guard lacks technology - this problem must be helped to solve.
Foreign resources attracted very late, if it were done in the same volume in early July, then the problem would not be tourist business helps to extinguish fires in Lake Baikal
Taiga.info: Why do you think the state copes with the disaster so slowly?
- I think that external resources attracted very late. If this were done in the same volume in early July, then there would be no problem. Whose fault - I think, law enforcement agencies will figure it out. But in the future, public control of forest ranges at the expense of people is necessary, whose fault fires were made. According to information in the media, more than 178 criminal cases have been instituted - I hope this will be brought to the result, and landing will appear in the taiga. It is clear that not in one year.
Taiga.info: What do you think, when the disaster subsides? And what can contribute to this?
- The forces of volunteers are approximately 10% of the total number of people in the Irkutsk region. And this is only on the weekend. In total, about 1,500 people extinguish the forest. I think that in order to quickly extinguish everything, it would need to be 15 thousand. But for this there is no equipment or organizational resource. I think that all fires will end in October. Or protracted rains may affect the situation. The taiga is incredibly dry - like gunpowder!
Alena Litvinenko