State Emergency Service reports twice as many ecosystem fires in last three months compared to previous year

Over the past three months of 2024, there were more than 3,700 ecosystem fires, marking a twofold increase compared to the same period last year. One of the primary causes is attributed to people’s negligent handling of fire, especially when burning dry vegetation.

Anatolii Shkarbuta, Deputy Head of the Prevention Unit of the Fire Safety Office of the Emergencies Prevention Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, made this statement during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.

“It is these indicators that are of great concern to the State Emergency Service, ecologists, and forestry workers, because it is abnormal. We are taking some significant measures to curb such an increase in fires,” he noted.

According to the statistics, in most cases, the causes of ecosystem fires are human irresponsibility.

“According to the statistics, the main causes of fires this spring, which is characterized by rising temperatures, are people’s negligent handling of fire. Most of the cases of large-scale fires happen because of deliberate burning of dry vegetation. Additionally, natural and weather conditions also influence the number and scale of these fires. However, the primary cause of ecosystem fires at the moment is the careless or intentional handling of fire by individuals when burning dry vegetation,” he explained.

He pointed out that the increase in ecosystem fires, in particular in the frontline regions, is also influenced by the hostilities. However, the primary cause remains the burning of dry vegetation by individuals.

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