Kazakh firefighters face equipment shortages as wildfire season beginsKazakhstan’s emergency responders lack sufficient equipment and fire stations to combat wildfires, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev reported Tuesday."We have started repairing firefighting vehicles and equipment to restore the full operational readiness. However, 75 vehicles remain inoperable. Of the 314 fire trucks available to the forestry departments, 132 should be decommissioned. Regional administrations must prioritize leasing new equipment," Nysanbayev said at a Tuesday meeting of the government.According to the minister, the Akmola, Aktobe, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar and East Kazakhstan regions face shortages of forest fire stations, for half of the existing stations were built back in the 1950s-1960s.The minister revealed critical shortages in fire observation infrastructure, with only 185 of the required 256 lookout towers currently operational. The Akmola, Pavlodar, and East Kazakhstan regions face particularly acute staffing deficits in forest protection services.“As at April 7, the forestry departments in the Aktobe, Atyrau, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan and Turkestan regions, as well as the Semey Ormany reserve, were not ready for the wildfire season,” Nysanbayev said.Following inspections, directives have been sent to the regional administrations, urging them to eliminate the deficiencies and ensure all equipment is brought to full operational readiness, he added. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX