Majilis Deputy Olzhas Kuspekov sent a request to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov proposing to expand the powers of emergency services.
WHAT PROMPTED THE INITIATIVE
According to the deputy's appeal, the initiative is linked to problems with fire engines and other services accessing incident sites. According to Kuspekov, such situations arise not only in the courtyards of residential buildings, but also near commercial and social facilities.
He noted that chaotic parking, blocked access routes, faulty hydrants and insufficient control by management organisations pose a direct threat to people's lives.
WHAT DATA THE DEPUTY CITES
Referring to information from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the deputy reported that in 2025 emergency services made over 93,000 call-outs, of which approximately 62% were to residential areas. In his opinion, this data confirms the systemic nature of the problem.
WHAT MEASURES ARE PROPOSED
Kuspekov proposed a number of changes aimed at ensuring unimpeded access for emergency services:
- introducing special zones for emergency vehicle access with a complete ban on parking;
- granting rescuers the right to remove obstacles without delay;
- allowing barriers and gates to be forced open when necessary;
- the ability to move vehicles blocking access;
- waiving compensation for damage to owners in cases of parking violations.
ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS
Other initiatives include strengthening fire safety requirements. This concerns monitoring the condition of equipment, implementing digital systems and connecting smoke detectors to emergency services. It was also proposed to consider the issue of compulsory property insurance.
CONTEXT
On the night of 12 April, a fire broke out in a flat on the 15th floor of a residential building on Turkestan Street in the Yesil district. During extinguishing, rescuers discovered the bodies of three minors; a woman with burns was hospitalised.
The Department of Emergency Situations reported that the entrance to the courtyard was blocked by metal gates, and the area was cluttered with cars, which complicated access for emergency vehicles to the scene of the incident.
Some eyewitnesses also pointed to difficult access: according to them, one car was parked at the entrance, meaning firefighters required about 20 minutes to gain access to the building.