The Lake Baikal wildfires

A true account of the Siberian fires. Bottom line: the authorities are simply not coping.

Volunteers protect Lake Baikal from the fire: "the scale of the disaster is enormous, everything is burning !"

Добровольцы спасают Байкал от огня: «Масштабы бедствия колоссальны, горит все!»

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Taiga. Info,

29 August, 2015


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The shores of lake Baikal have been on fire for several weeks. Feeling that the authorities can not cope with the situation, the inhabitants of the Irkutsk region have created a squad "15.08", to put out fires along with foresters. About the power of the scourge and the divergence of official information with the reality of the Taiga.info told one of the volunteers.

August 13, the head EMERCOM of Russia Vladimir Puchkov has promised to eliminate forest fires for 2.5 days. The area of the fires in Siberia, according to on August 28, more than 173 thousand hectares in Buryatia — 146 thousand hectares, in the Irkutsk region — 17.8 thousand hectares, in Tuva — 11 thousand hectares). Irkutsk squad "15.08", named after the date of the first out of the woods, voluntarily fighting the scourge. One of the volunteers told the Taiga.info about the disaster and the causes of uncontrolled spread of fire. Fearing a possible "pressure", he wished to remain anonymous.

Taiga.info: Why did you decide to engage in firefighting, search volunteers?

I saw the social network a call for help from someone you trust. I also, like many sat in the veil of deception, thinking that all is well. We went along with a friend, and when I saw the truth, he knew that it was not possible to do otherwise than to start to help their native and.

Taiga.info: how Many volunteers plucked?

Volunteers very much, and we still almost didn't even run the media. Generally the whole area, all the media expressed their willingness to fit us in a dialogue and start the alert. But we have limited resources at the command of the group, so in this [last] departure we selected 90 volunteers. Although it can be more.

Taiga.info: Are volunteers some training?

We selected 80% of men between 21 and 55 years of age and 20% of women to help on the spot — packing clothes and food and cooking lunch and dinner. But the women and children into the woods to go strictly prohibited.
Taiga.info: How does the departure of the volunteers? You just go with your scrap materials, coordinating with MOE?

The emergencies Ministry we could not be coordinated, as we are for them and no one to call us in any way. The first two times we talked on the phone with friends of foresters. Our commanders all his life was devoted to the forest, so is perfectly oriented on the terrain and knew the contacts of employees of the national Park. 

Taiga.info: Where did you get the money on equipment for fighting fires? 

— Second trip we found yourself and combustive-lubricating materials, and products, and the necessary transport. Of course, called all his friends, wrote on the social network — and society is beginning to Wake up. After the second trip and truthful post of one of the volunteers, which spread throughout the country, the society finally beginning to understand that they are being deceived. When the smoke appeared in Irkutsk, the phone started to ring every second.

Taiga.info: What is the reaction of firefighters and officials for your help?

— Foresters we were immensely pleased, because the hands are completely lacking. But officials were discouraged, because according to them "everything under control". Mr Beams flying across the country and says that "the consequences minimized" and that "the fires in Siberia extinguishes "42 thousand" people. Of course, not true.

Taiga.info: How difficult was it to put out fires? Tell us more about it.

— The most difficult thing is to breathe, everything else is tolerable. We spent no more than three hours at a time. A total of three runs. During this operation the force leaves you pretty quickly. However, we were able to stop the fire for about 3 km, But this little yet.

Taiga.info: What are the approximate scale of the disaster? Feel the difference with what the media says, the authorities?

The scale of this disaster is enormous. Burns. The tourist season on lake Baikal is finished, for all the smoke. Beams reported that he sees the opposite shore of lake Baikal, but it is impossible in Irkutsk joke that he had seen from Listvyanka to Port Baikal is through the Hangar. Of course, we can't really know everything, but witnesses say that, for example, the Svyatoy nos Peninsula already burnt out by 40% and continues to burn on.

Media reported that the day extinguished 0.25% fires. Lungs of the planet burn, and the President don't care! And all this in the midst of elections of the Governor of the Irkutsk region. The acting Governor Sergei Eroschenko], of course, came toward us — coupled with the headquarters of civil defense and emergencies, promised support — but what is the point? End this story is not visible.

Taiga.info: What others say eyewitnesses fires, the same officers of forest protection?

— They say a lot of things. The essence is the same: neither the people nor the technology.

Taiga.info: why do you think the MOE is unable to cope with the нdisaster?

I don't know. They say cope. But the fact that forests are destroyed: where once within the forest was 15 people and four pieces of equipment, now three men and two pieces of equipment. In fact, they only have time to record and to report that not enough time.

And MOE and the rest just came late. There was no way to stop the forces of nature. Besides MOE firefighters, to be honest. Their task is to save people, they save you. Don't let the fire closer than 500 meters to the settlements. The rest of the strength is not enough.

For video and original article GO HERE