Ravil Muratov: We should stop practice of burning dry grass

Today acting prime minister Ravil Muratov has held session of commission on prevention and liquidation of emergency situations and ensuring fire safety. Issues of fire safety of republican forests have been discussed at the session.

It was announced that in 2009 48 fires were registered in Tatarstan forest fund at the area of 83,8 hectares. The damage has made 7,883 mln. roubles. Many of fires were caused by breach of fire safety regulations while conducting agricultural fires and incautious use of fire.

Main anti-fire measures on preparing the territory of forest fund were carried forward from spring, 2009 to autumn, 2010. Key works on arranging and care of mineralized zones, repair and construction of piers for water intake by special fire machinery, cleaning of territory of forest fund from litter outside forest zones, partial burning of dry grass and other preventive measures have been carried out.

An edict “On measures for protecting forests from fires in 2010” has been accepted by RT Cabinet. Operative (mobilization) plans of municipal regions on allocating powers and means for extinguishing forest fires have been developed and approved.

From April,15 fire-hazardous period is announced in republic. Republican foresters have prepared 18 fire-chemical stations, 42 fire vehicles, 16 fire-observation towers and masts, 27 trailing firefighting complexes “Vodolei”, 376 backpack forest fire extinguishes and 24 air blowers for extinguishing possible forest fires.

Acting Prime Minister Ravil Muratov criticized practice of burning dry grass on fields after snow-melting.

In format of videoconference Ravil Muratov heard reports of representatives from several republican regions where serious fires have taken place because of burning dry grass. He requested heads of regional commissions on emergency situations to take all possible measures on stopping this practice.