Since the beginning of the year, more than 3,500 dry vegetation fires have occurred in Odesa region

The main reason is the human factor. Most often, such large-scale fires are caused by unauthorized burning of dry grass. This was stated by Volodymyr Pashevych, head of the emergency prevention department of the main department of the Odesa regional state emergency service, at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Odesa.

He noted that such fires in open areas are a seasonal problem for the South of Ukraine. 

“Since the beginning of the year, more than 3,500 such fires have occurred in Odesa region. The total area of the fire is over 1,500 hectares. We had 50 such fires in the last day alone, and it is very difficult when they occur at the same time. And such fires spread very quickly, in a matter of seconds the fire is no longer under control. And rescuers have to work with improvised means, because there are often no water sources near the fire,” – the official said.

Maryna Martynenko, spokesperson Odesa state emergency service department, noted that it is more often the elderly who are involved in unauthorized burning of dry grass than young people.

“There was a case when an elderly woman tried to extinguish a fire she had provoked on her own, she got burned and died. So we urge you not to do this. In addition, people forget that rescue forces are very much needed because of the war, to eliminate the consequences of enemy attacks. And it is very difficult for rescuers when they work at night in the cities of attacks and during the day they go to extinguish such fires, which may be far from fire stations,” – the official said. 

Volodymyr Pashevych also reminded that the minimum fine for unauthorized burning of dry vegetation for individuals is UAH 3060.

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