Ministry of forestry RB offers to open the specialized center for forest fires extinguishing

The theme of forest fires goes on disturbing the public opinion. The autumn fires broke up with a new strength. At the same time the extremely hot summer discovered the weak spots in the fire safety of the Ministry of forestry RB. The total wear of the fire tank-cars makes up more than 85%, tractors – 87%, the equipment and inventories, found in the fire safety points, have the physical wear, reaching 95%. The heavy bulldozer’s machinery is practically absent. Specialists of the Ministry say about 400 million rubles is required to renew the whole fire safety machinery and equipment. Now the Ministry has to ask for help in other different organizations in order to attract both people and machines for struggle with the forest fires. The forestry faces the shortage of specialists too. Once about 10000 people worked in this system. Now this number is three times less. The need in the inspectors makes up 2800 people and only 1205 inspectors work in the forestry sphere now, combining several other functions in addition.

At the same time according to the estimations, made by the international ecological organization “Green Peace” the losses for forest fire extinguishing in Russia would have been dozens times less, if the number of specialists in the Russian forestries had been more complete. In money terms the losses fr om the forest fires in Bashkiria in 2010 made up 30 million rubles. A part of this sum was refunded from the Republican budget – 4,8 million rubles and another part – from the Russian budget – 21,5 million rubles.

For extinguishing the forest fires there is only one helicopter in the Republic, while at least three are required. As it is known, one can rapidly and efficiently extinguish the forest fires in the hard-to-access mountainous regions with the help of helicopters.

Beloretsky region of Bashkiria has become the champion by the number of forest fires, wh ere the arsons were registered too. Burziansky and Zilairsky regions go behind.

In order to avoid such extreme fire situation in 2011, the Ministry of forestry RB offers to open the specialized center for forest fires extinguishing.