Wildfires destroyed 680 hectares of forest in Armenia
17.08.2017,
14:51
Two massive wildfires in the last few days have destroyed 680 hectares of forests, Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations David Karapetyan said during an Armenian cabinet session today.
YEREVAN, August 17. /ARKA/. Two massive wildfires in the last few days have destroyed 680 hectares of forests, Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations David Karapetyan said during an Armenian cabinet session today.
He said the operation to extinguish the wildfires was impeded by unfavorable natural and climatic conditions, including complex mountainous terrain, dried grass caused by prolonged drought, as well as winds that contributed to the spread of fire. According to the preliminary data of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 360 hectares of forest and many more hectares of vegetation have been destroyed in the state-run Khosrov Forest Reserve. "At the moment the situation in the reserve is completely under control, and work is underway to extinguish the last hotbeds of fire," Karapetyan said.
He also said that the Russian Il -76 water –dropping plane continues the air operations to extinguish the last hotbeds of fire, creating security zones and a humid atmosphere to exclude possible re-ignition of fires. According to the deputy minister, no fires of this magnitude occurred in Armenia in recent years.
‘The latest achievements of the Ministry of Emergencies, the dedicated and professional work of Armenian rescuers have made people believe that such fires could be eliminated and extinguished in just a few hours. However, not only such small countries as Armenia, but even much bigger and powerful countries are faced with problems when extinguishing fires of this magnitude," Karapetyan said. -0-
He said the operation to extinguish the wildfires was impeded by unfavorable natural and climatic conditions, including complex mountainous terrain, dried grass caused by prolonged drought, as well as winds that contributed to the spread of fire. According to the preliminary data of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 360 hectares of forest and many more hectares of vegetation have been destroyed in the state-run Khosrov Forest Reserve. "At the moment the situation in the reserve is completely under control, and work is underway to extinguish the last hotbeds of fire," Karapetyan said.
He also said that the Russian Il -76 water –dropping plane continues the air operations to extinguish the last hotbeds of fire, creating security zones and a humid atmosphere to exclude possible re-ignition of fires. According to the deputy minister, no fires of this magnitude occurred in Armenia in recent years.
‘The latest achievements of the Ministry of Emergencies, the dedicated and professional work of Armenian rescuers have made people believe that such fires could be eliminated and extinguished in just a few hours. However, not only such small countries as Armenia, but even much bigger and powerful countries are faced with problems when extinguishing fires of this magnitude," Karapetyan said. -0-
