Roman Rudak, Deputy Director of the Department for Emergency Prevention at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform
March 20, 2023, 17:00

127 fires broke out in ecosystems in Ukraine in the past day, covering 80 hectares of territory — Roman Rudak

A total of 507 personnel and 126 units of equipment were involved in eliminating the consequences of the fires that occurred in Ukraine over the past day.

Roman Rudak, Deputy Director of the Department for Emergency Prevention at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, made the relevant data announcement during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform. 

He noted that the most common violations causing fires in ecosystems are citizens’ illegal burning of dry vegetation, allowing for the possibility of careless handling of fire.

Roman Rudak also stressed the conditions that will prevent fires in ecosystems.

“The largest number of fires in ecosystems occurs in spring, summer, and early autumn. During this period in this regard, citizens are prohibited from entering the territory of the forest fund by means of transport and other vehicles, except for those used for forestry purposes; visiting coniferous plantations while high temperatures conditions; making fires in forests and adjacent territories; smoking, tossing lit matches and cigarette butts in the forest; leaving rags soaked in gasoline or oil in the forest; leaving fuel containers; operating machines and other mechanisms with faulty exhaust systems and engines; burning dry vegetation,” he said 

In addition, the Deputy Director of the Department for Emergency Prevention at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine noted that burning dry vegetation on the territory of the state is punishable.

“Thus, Article 77 of the Code on Administrative Offenses for violating fire safety requirements in forests imposes fines on citizens from 90 to 270 tax-free minimum incomes (from UAH 1530 to 4590). Under Article 77-1 of the Code on Administrative Offenses, unauthorized burning of vegetation or its residues is punishable by a fine of 170 to 360 tax-free minimum incomes (UAH 3,000 to 6,000). Therefore, burning dry vegetation is not only dangerous, but you also need to know that you can be held liable for it, both financially and criminally.”

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