Emergencies ministry deploys helicopters to battle Almany swamp fire

April 21, Pozirk. The emergencies ministry has deployed helicopters to extinguish a forest fire near the village of Staryna in the area of Almany swamps in southern Belarus.

The Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters dropped a total of 77 tons of water in 22 water drops. Land access to the area is hampered by the swamps.

Around 7 p.m., the ministry reported that 77 people were extinguishing anther forest fire near the village of Kajkava, Minsk region. Seventeen units of hardware were deployed. The lack of access roads and wind gusts complicated the operation.

Emergency workers put out nine forest fires, one peat fire and 76 grass and bush fires between 6 a.m. on April 20 and 6 a.m. on April 21.

The ministry described the fire situation as “difficult.”

“Last weekend alone, forestry workers extinguished 26 forest fires on an area of more than 100 hectares. Some fires were battled even at night. Today, we already know about fires in the Baraŭlany and Čačersk special forest management enterprises; in Paleśsie, Miłaševičy and Pietrykaŭ forest management enterprises,” it reported.

According to its map, a ban on visiting wooded areas has been in effect in the Baranavičy and Lachavičy districts of the Brest region since April 21, as well as in the Chojniki district of the Homiel region since April 19.

Restrictions are in place in most other forests of the country, including a ban on entry by vehicles or camp fires. People are only allowed to hike or pick berries and mushrooms in the restricted areas.