In the Karoy Forestry of the Balkhash district, Almaty region, dry grass and reeds caught fire. The preliminary area of the fire is 18 hectares.
According to the press service of the regional emergency department, helicopters dropped 159 tonnes of water in 53 passes on the fire site.
"Extinguishing the fire hotspots is being carried out using motor pumps, and in accessible areas using beaters and backpack forest fire extinguishers. <…> In total, about 40 people and more than 10 pieces of equipment from the Emergency Department of the Almaty region, the Local Executive Authority (LEA - editor's note) and local residents are involved in extinguishing the fire," the statement says.
Recall that earlier, following an inspection by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, it became known that the Pavlodar, Akmola, Kostanay regions, as well as the "Semey Ormany" reserve, were not prepared for potential fires.
It is worth noting that in June of last year, a major fire occurred in the forests of the Abai region, resulting in the deaths of 14 employees of the "Semey Ormany" forest nature reserve.