OREANDA-NEWS. July 28, 2010. “It is regional authorities that are responsible for implementing fire-prevention and other safety measures... The heads of regions must constantly monitor the implementation of these responsibilities, which must be subject to the oversight of federal agencies, including the Emergencies Ministry and the Federal Forestry Agency.”

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held a conference call with officials from across Russia, during which he heard accounts from the areas that had been most affected and where regional authorities had been forced to declare a state of emergency.

The prime minister emphasised the need to inform the population about the fire situation. He also pointed out the need to increase the capabilities of the relief and rescue services that fight forest fires.

In conclusion, Vladimir Putin said that the forest fire situation in Russia was difficult but under control. The total area affected by forest fires this year is almost a third of what it was in 2009, despite more adverse weather conditions this year. However, the prime minister stressed that measures taken in the regions had not always been effective or, more importantly, timely.

In this respect, Vladimir Putin emphasised the personal responsibility that officials at all levels bear for fire prevention measures and the effectiveness of such measures. Officials must not relax their attention towards this issue, the prime minister said.

Transcript of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome everyone to the meeting, both those of you here in the room and in the regions. Today, we will discuss wildfires in Russia and the problems they are causing. Just a few months ago, we were discussing the unusually cold winter, and today we are faced with an unusually hot summer.

Many regions have seen record high summer temperatures resulting in drought and fire-hazardous situations in the forests. Today, we will discuss measures to prevent and fight forest fires, as well as to limit their effects as much as possible, including for those individuals who have been affected.

Naturally, we will first listen to the reports from the regions that have experienced the most difficulties, and where a state of emergency has been declared by the local authorities.

Specifically, I would like to draw your attention to the following facts. First, fires can and are posing a threat to residential settlements, and consequently to people's life, health, and property. I would like you to report on the measures being taken to inform the public of fire hazards.

Secondly, the fire and emergency services involved in fire fighting need to be reinforced and their capacity strengthened. Under the circumstances, any failures may result in tragic consequences and, therefore, are absolutely unacceptable.

This is not the first time that we are discussing forest fires, and the problems in this area are well known. I will only remind you that, in accordance with the Forest Code, the main responsibilities for safety and protection are vested with the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The federal budget allocates significant resources to the regions to meet these responsibilities. A total of 2.2 billion roubles have been allocated in 2010.

It is regional authorities that are responsible for implementing fire-prevention and other safety measures, including road construction and rehabilitation, creating and equipping helipads, and other necessary preventive measures.

The heads of regions must constantly monitor the implementation of these responsibilities, which must be subject to the oversight of federal agencies, including the Emergencies Ministry and the Federal Forestry Agency. Today, I would like the speakers to report on how effective the existing system of forest safety and protection is.

So let's get to work. I suggest we hear from our colleagues in the regions first. Then, I would like Mr Shoigu to speak, followed by Mr Zubkov.

Let's begin with the Moscow Region. Mr Gromov, can you hear us?


Boris Gromov: Yes. Good afternoon, Mr Putin. I'd like to begin by thanking the leadership of the Russian Emergencies Ministry for their efforts to help the Moscow Region.

During this year's fire-hazard season, we've had 2.5 as many wildfires in the region as a year ago, with the affected territory exceeding last year's twelvefold in terms of the total number of hectares. Peat fires account for about one-third of the total while the remaining two-thirds have been forest fires.

No large-scale wildfires have been recorded in the region so far this year. Up to fifty wildfires break out here daily, on average. I've personally taken several flights and rides around the areas most at risk in order to coordinate and monitor efforts on the ground.

A large pool of personnel and hardware has been formed to fight wildfires in the region. We have 1,084 workers and 345 pieces of machinery. The Emergencies Ministry has also sent in some of its forces from neighboring regions, including Kaluga, Smolensk, and Tula, as well as from Moscow.

In our daily operations to detect and extinguish large-scale wildfires, we employ aircraft, including heavy aircraft.

The area affected by wildfires within the National Forest Fund keeps growing, but we have difficulty organizing efforts to deal with the problem, as the Moscow Region is the only region in Russia lacking authority over its forests.  

To protect the population against wildfires in the Moscow Region we've been implementing an array of preventive efforts since this past spring. These include regulations for preparing and executing measures to minimize risks during the wildfire season. Material and financial resources have been accumulated in sufficient quantities (almost 170 million roubles, as of today). We've set up a centre for interdepartmental interaction to prevent and extinguish wildfires in the Moscow Region. And in each of the municipalities we've established headquarters for day-to-day work, to be supervised by mayors. We've also arranged for the gathering of up-to-date information on wildfires, including with the use of air reconnaissance, and on measures being taken to prevent and extinguish wildfires.

We've also arranged for wildfire safety reports to be made to the public on television, radio and in print media, as well as through leaflets and brochures distributed to local businesses and schools. In addition, four rapid-response groups have been set up to oversee the north, the south, the west and the east of the Moscow Region, respectively, with deputies to the regional prime minister placed in charge of each such group. Also, the start of the upcoming hunting season has been postponed till autumn.

Unfortunately, the Moscow Region is faced with the challenge of wildfires every year, with the northeast, the east and the southeast particularly at risk. The biggest danger is posed by the region's peat deposits, of which many have now been abandoned by their owners (some, including the Shatura hydroelectric power plant, have switched over to gas). Peat plants have all gone bankrupt, and no one really needs them these days. With this in mind, we've been contemplating, since last year, flooding the abandoned peat deposits. We've ordered a feasibility study, but the financial crisis has forced us put the project on hold, unfortunately.

According to preliminary estimates, flooding peat deposits-which, in my view, would be the best solution - will cost more than 4.5 billion roubles in the Shatura district alone, which is the one hardest hit by peat fires. In the Moscow Region, there're five districts where peat deposits have been developed commercially - Shatura, Yegorievsk, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Lukhovitsy and Taldom. I would appreciate it if the government considered instituting a federal programme to help us tackle the problem.

In conclusion, I'd like to assure you, Mr Putin, that the resources we've got on hand will enable us to keep the situation under control. All the services involved - regional as well as federal - are working in close cooperation. And I believe we'll resolve the problem eventually. All the more so since we've got additional resources on standby, provided by the Agriculture Ministry, the utilities and housing sector, and building brigades.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Mr Gromov. The peat deposits are, indeed, burning. Do subsoil fires continue into the winter?

Boris Gromov: Yes, they smolder even in wintertime, 5-6 meters underground. And with the return of warm weather, the flames will rise above the surface.

Vladimir Putin: The programme you've mentioned, the one about peat deposits, how long would it take to implement?

Boris Gromov: I believe it would take about three years, if all the areas with peat deposits are targeted. Actually, we executed part of that programme back in 2003, when disastrous wildfires hit the region, sending smoke and haze to Moscow. We then flooded some of the peat - luckily, we had enough water. Now our water reserves are growing smaller with each passing day. But I think we should proceed with this [programme] anyway. 

Vladimir Putin: The sum of 5 billion roubles in projected allocations is to be spent over these three years, right?

Boris Gromov: Four-and-a-half billion is the amount for one single district, and we've got five to attend to, overall.

Vladimir Putin: So, it adds up to 20-25 billion?

Boris Gromov: Yes, more or less.

Vladimir Putin: Okay, we'll return to this later on. Thank you very much.

Now let's hear from the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Mr Shantsev.