"We need to put a candle so that the rain goes"

In the Murmansk region, forest fires extinguish 15 volunteers. Instead of equipment, they are offered to help with a prayer

In the Murmansk region, the border checkpoint of the Lotta Finland was closed for the first time. The reason is that the checkpoint surrounded fires. The Finns, observing the spread of fire, were alarming that for a day: the flame was about to cross the border. As a result, the Finnish border guards themselves joined in extinguishing and provided their helicopter. While the fire blocked the road, firefighters from all over the Murmansk region are pulled out in the direction of the border. Meanwhile, the flame is already moving to the second point of the pass - Salla.

In the remaining parts of the Kola Peninsula, no less burns. Anomalous heat was established in the region: up to +32 degrees. There are no rains, and the tundra is blazing. There is no one to extinguish.

In total, about 20 large fires are registered on the peninsula. The Lapland Reserve is on fire, burns in Kandalaksha, Lovozersky, Pechengsky, Kola districts, and burns in the vicinity of Teriberka.

In Teriberk, the festival is now: the regional government is lucky to the depressive village of Songs, Dance and Guests. Officials in these parts are rare visits, but this time the time is clearly not chosen: residents are afraid to open the windows due to the smell of Gary, and the road from Murmansk is all in caustic smoke. Along the route at least three large fires. It has been burning for about a week.

The point, however, is not what burns, but that they do not extinguish. To fight fire near the village, neither the strength nor the means was found.

On Friday, the district administration threw a cry: they called volunteers to extinguish the fire. There were 15 people.

- You see, GPS ( State Fire Service. - T. B. ) does not have the right to extinguish, then than 200 meters from the road. Their weapons are not designed for remote fires. This should be engaged in aircraft guard. But with it, the administration of districts and cities must conclude agreements. But there is no money. So no one extinguishes, ”Vladimir Kichigin, the former chief of the Teriberk fire department, is replaced. Together we are going to look for the foci of fires with which volunteers are fighting.

- Here, after all, the GPS will not particularly help. Jagel is on, fire is on the bottom, here the water consumption is large from the sleeve, but there is no result, ”the satellite explains to me.

- We need special satchels - with a pump, you know? Motompoves are needed, if the sleeves, then a small diameter. All this is a penny. But nothing. We used to take a plastic bottle in general, we made holes in the lid, poured water and so “jumped”.

- (continues) In our car there were always five such bottles. The guys and I went to these places, stewed. Yes, I somehow stewed: I returned from Murmansk, stopped on the road, extinguished. In the same place as now it burns. But then there was a small fire.

The first stop is the 67th kilometer. Smoke reaches the road, in the distance on a ground lapel you can see a fire engine. However, the car is far from the focus of the fire, about 300 meters. From it - from the sleeves - volunteers simply take water and carry further. 3 people volunteers.

- We are generally from Kildinstroy (a village 125 km from Teriberka), the call came to us, the commander says, go - look. Well, let's go. We were here yesterday, just didn’t extinguish, ”says Nachkar. In a T -shirt and tucked pants, he is indistinguishable from volunteers and is now extinguishing with them. All four fire brigades have backpacks and shovels. The fire of the snake curls along the tundra hundreds of meters. The wind is changing, it becomes stronger. The fire is wide, goes to people. People go into smoke. They return, spitting out and wiping sweat, gain more water and again drag up their own 300 meters - until the first flames. Earth is on their feet. No gas masks or respirators, of course, are. Eyes are watery, gusts of wind raise the clouds of ash.

- You would have fitted the car at least a hill, the guys would have to run less, right there - tundra, there is no swamp. You will stretch the sleeves 180 meters closer, ”Vladimir introduces the radio expense.

- The car is not one million. If something happens, who will answer? - the driver reacts.

“Eh, and we would definitely take a chance with the guys,” Kichigin complains, getting into his car. “But you can understand him.” On it, and really, if anything, everyone will hang it. Who will protect him? You do not think that they do not extinguish negligence. We have two people left in the parts, everyone was reduced. You twitch people from the village - there will be no one left in case of an emergency.

Volunteers were attracted by local officials. The day before, an announcement appeared in social networks, promising 5 thousand rubles per day of work in a fire. 50 people unsubscribed in the comments, but by the time the bus was departed, one and a half dozen were gained. From Murmansk, Cola, Severomorsk.

Vasily Levin, authorized from the district administration, is surprised that Teriberchan himself did not find among the volunteers.

“The second time we attract volunteers,” says Vladimir. - About two years ago in the Oryolka area burned, they also took people. Their border guards were planted on the boat. And there was nothing either - some buckets were given. But the sleeves and motor pumps of a penny stand, I say. The pump - 15 thousand, sleeve - one and a half, satchels - three each. Fifth dollars spent everything - and let it lay in a warehouse for such a case. And then how to water? Teapots, or something, or bottles? On TV, rockets show, "Sarmatians", "daggers", and on the ground we have this ...

Kichigin complains: throughout the region, after the exit of the next order of the Ministry of Emergencies, a huge number of voluntary fire brigades were created, in which "girls on the hills" are. The reports for the authorities are fine.

But real voluntary detachments, which would be contained by the regional budget, were trained, equipped and could actually come to the rescue, no.

We pass the second hearth: do not get to it, they do not extinguish it. Kichigin says when the tundra burns, the helicopter will not help. True, there is still a helicopter. One. Moreover, 10 paratroopers sent to Murmansk from Vologda. The day before, the region officially requested help from neighboring regions.

Governor Kovtun admitted that "it is not possible to put out such arrays on its own." By the way,

In Murmansk, only major exercises of the Ministry of Emergencies were held. One of the versions why they dragged on with extinguishing - everyone was busy on maneuvers with great bosses.

The third fire is behind the lake. Length in length - from two to four kilometers. A dozen volunteers went to extinguish him on a boat. They have been stewing for 4 hours, but there are no visible successes. They don’t have pumps, they themselves are typed in backpacks in a lake about 200 meters from a fire. Fire goes towards people, against the wind.

Vasily Levin stands on the shore. Putin in a cap is staring from his T -shirt to fire. “The most polite president,” says the inscription. When asked whether volunteers will return here the next day, shakes with crying: hardly. For the conversation, it is clear that they did not plan.

“There is no sorry for the church here, I would put a candle so that the rain would go,” Levin says unexpectedly. -Do not put out differently.

- Helps? - I ask.

- Sometimes. If you pray well.