On April 16 Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir PUchkov visited the city of Krasnoyarsk to hold a meeting on providing security of people and areas during flood and fire season in Siberia.
The meeting was attended by head of Siberian Regional Center of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Vladimir Svetelsky, governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Lev Kuznetsov and representatives of ministries and agencies charged with matters relating hydrological and forest fire situations in the Siberian Federal District.
In his speech Mr. Puchkov outlined a number of important problems connected with traditional for that season risks: “In many regions of Russia, including Siberian there is a problem of dry grass burnings, which are only slightly controlled and evolve into forest fires. Such fires then threaten villages, holiday houses, infrastructure, cause large clouds of smoke and situation can be stabilized only by efforts of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, other federal agencies and executive authorities in the subjects”.
Mr. Svetelsky made a report on flood and fire situation in the Siberian Federal District. He noted that the hydrological situation in Siberia is within average annual values and the anti-flood measures were taken in full.
Relating to fire situation it was pointed out that the checks by interagency commissions had showed that all the subjects of the Siberian Federal District were ready to the fire season. Up to 400 task forces of fire garrisons are deployed each day to monitor the situation and take immediate measures. A Be-200 ChS plane and Mi-8 helicopters are deployed to stabilize the situation and have made 84 flights. One plane of the regional center (Be-200 ChS) has been sent to fight fires in the Far Eastern region.
In conclusion the Minister ordered to tighten control over response of governing bodies, including bringing down the information on forecasted emergency situations to municipalities, pay special attention to security measures during undergrowth burning.