Mongolian State Emergency Commission urges prevention and fighting of forest and steppe fires
Mongolian State Emergency Commission urges prevention and suppression of forest and steppe fires
19 April 2012
published by www.shuud.mn/
Mongolia — Due to extremely dry and windy weather conditions this spring, fire danger index reached the high and extreme level in the territories of Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Selenge, Tuv, Dornod, Sukhbaatar, and Khentey provinces. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), since March 77 forest-steppe fires already occurred and about 1000 firefighters are involved in efforts to contain the fires, as well as more than 3000 local citizens. Today, four fires burning in Khentey, Khuvsgul and Dornod provinces and eight fires in Bulgan, Khuvsgul, Uvs, Selenge provinces are under control.
There have been no reports of injuries or serious property damages in these fires, however, on 18 April, a fast-moving fire in Khentey approached the town of Dadal (about 4000 inhabitants) and because of smoke, residents were evacuated to the safer places. Burned area statistics are not yet ready.
Due to increasing fire occurances the State Emergency Commission made a commitment to undertake cloud seeding to produce artificial rain, to intensify fire detection of Emergency agency staffs and repeatedly broadcast fire prevention awareness on medias. According to the NEMA, numerous State firefighting forces have been sent out to the Dadal, Khentey and neighbouring provinces.
