In the village of Nogayty, Aktobe region, a fire station was officially opened on 1 August. When hay caught fire on 9 August at the farm of a local resident with a disability, villagers discovered the station closed and the fire engine with no crew.
HOW THE FIRE STATION WAS OPENED
According to Ulysmedia.kz, the fire station in Baiganin district was opened with the participation of district akim Aibek Kopenov and the village akim. The building was constructed using sponsor funds under a memorandum with Sagiz Petroleum Company.
The fire occurred on 9 August at the farm of a local resident with a disability. Villagers had counted on the help of the new fire station, but found the facility closed. The fire engine was on site, but there were no staff nearby.
WHY THE STATION WAS NOT OPERATING
After residents raised objections, it emerged that the facility, opened eight days before the fire, had not yet been taken onto the district's balance sheet. However, the fire engine had already been handed over to the Department for Emergency Situations (DES).
Baiganin district akim Aibek Kopenov said that work to accept the building onto the balance sheet was ongoing. According to him, two staff positions are due to be allocated after this.
WHAT THE DISTRICT AKIM SAID
Aibek Kopenov explained that the building was constructed with the support of sponsors and opened on 1 August. However, he did not clarify why the ceremony was held before the facility had actually been taken onto the balance sheet and provided with staff.
Thus, at the time of the fire, the station had a building and a fire engine, but had not yet been provided with personnel and had not begun full operation.
