The State Commission for Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies has approved a number of measures to prevent and combat mass fires in forests, peatlands and agricultural lands during the fire season in 2022. This was reported by the Government portal.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Commission chaired by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal on March 26.
During the discussion, it was emphasized that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources has set up a working group to monitor the state of fire danger. In addition, to reduce the number of fires, the Ministry of Environment and the State Coinspection are constantly explaining the population. Inspectors of the State Coinspection constantly visit cases of burning dry grass.
The head of the State Emergency Service, Serhiy Kruk, said that about 4,000 fires had been registered in March. “But the situation is under control, we ensure maximum response and elimination in the initial stages,” he said.
At the same time, the Prime Minister Denys Shmygal proposed to address the Verkhovna Rada with a proposal to increase the responsibility, including the introduction of criminal liability, for arson by arson.
Thus, the members of the Commission supported the initiative of the Cabinet of Ministers to appeal to the Parliament to strengthen this responsibility. The Head of Government is convinced that the proposal will be supported by the deputies, as this issue is especially relevant during martial law.