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Karabakh fire fighters outline measures to fight fires
Arminfo, Yerevan
6 Jul 07
Stepanakert, 6 July: Since the end of May of this year fires break out
periodically on the border line of Nagornyy Karabakh [NKR] and
Azerbaijani forces.
The rescuing service of the NKR finds and extinguishes the fires. In
case of necessity it is assisted by the servicemen of the NKR defence
army and the population. Head of the NKR rescuing service Ashot Verdyan
said that a twenty-four-hour watch has been placed in all regions and
in corresponding zones. The number of field rescuing points (with a
fire fighting vehicle and fighting brigades) has increased by five
compared to the last year (in 2006 there were 18 points, in 2007 there
are 23).
"We swiftly react to signals about inflammation and take corresponding
measures at once. In cases of technical shortage, the group is
practically making a heroic step. The experience of last year's fire
fights helps to successfully localize and prevent the fires. In case of
big fires several cars work simultaneously, servicemen and people help.
Apart from steady field points, moving posts also exist. Corresponding
territories are controlled by driving through them on UAZ cars," Ashot
Verdyan said.
The head of the fire-fighting service of the NKR rescuing service,
Samvel Ayrumyan, said that thanks to preventive events, the number of
fires has decreased considerably compared to last year. As of 4 July 13
hectares were burnt in Hadrut region, 6 hectares in Martuni, and 10
hectares in Mardakert.
The head of the Hadrut fire-fighting division of the NKR rescuing
service, Roman Mailyan, said that the fires more often originate in the
region of Horadiz station, between the military points of the NKR and
the Azerbaijani armed forces. "We do not have access there, this is why
we cannot speak about the reasons of fires exactly. When the fire moves
to our side, we take all measures to localize it and put off. Our
forces are on an intense duty. Servicemen and population help," Mailyan
said.
The head of the Martakert fire-fighting division of the NKR rescuing
service, Karen Grigoryan, said that four cases of fire have been
recorded, and the fire came from the Azerbaijani side. Brigades of
fire-fighters and rescuers took corresponding measures to localize and
extinguish the fires. Preventive measures are also taken. The head of
the Askeran fire-fighting division of the NKR rescuing service, Artur
Danielyan, said that as of 4 July there are no burnt cultivation
fields. However one fire, which originated on the territory controlled
by Azerbaijani forces, spread towards the positions of NKR defence
army, and then changed its direction because of the wind, and did not
reach the positions. In all, the fire spread on a territory of 15 km.
The fire was put off by fire-fighters and rescuers.
"It was visible that the fire was coming from the Azerbaijani side.
Apparently, after collecting the harvest, the season comes earlier in
lowlands, the Azerbaijanis burnt the field. We are ready to hold a
monitoring together with Azerbaijanis anytime, in order to find out the
real situation," Danielyan said.
A state office has been created, headed by NKR Agriculture Minister
Vahram Baghdasaryan, the aim of which is to collect all harvest without
losses. The office includes representatives of interested structures,
including the NKR rescuing service.
Earlier, the NKR Foreign Ministry directed a note to the office of the
personal representative of the acting OSCE chairman, in which it
expressed concern at the fires, and asked to hold a crisis monitoring
of the bordering zone with the aim of evaluating the actual situation
on the spot. The NKR Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the timely
interference of the office of the representative will allow to avoid a
repetition of last year's situation with the fires, which was used by
the Azerbaijani authorities with aims of propaganda, and became another
factor destabilizing the peace process.
In another note directed to the coordinator of OSCE activity in economy
and environment, the NKR Foreign Ministry called to take a principal
and a consistent position in the question of realization of
recommendations of the OSCE mission, which, as it was in the note,
"will allow reaching the aims and create an acting mechanism on
fighting fires along the bordering line, which can become an element of
trust."
Arminfo, Yerevan
6 Jul 07
Stepanakert, 6 July: Since the end of May of this year fires break out
periodically on the border line of Nagornyy Karabakh [NKR] and
Azerbaijani forces.
The rescuing service of the NKR finds and extinguishes the fires. In
case of necessity it is assisted by the servicemen of the NKR defence
army and the population. Head of the NKR rescuing service Ashot Verdyan
said that a twenty-four-hour watch has been placed in all regions and
in corresponding zones. The number of field rescuing points (with a
fire fighting vehicle and fighting brigades) has increased by five
compared to the last year (in 2006 there were 18 points, in 2007 there
are 23).
"We swiftly react to signals about inflammation and take corresponding
measures at once. In cases of technical shortage, the group is
practically making a heroic step. The experience of last year's fire
fights helps to successfully localize and prevent the fires. In case of
big fires several cars work simultaneously, servicemen and people help.
Apart from steady field points, moving posts also exist. Corresponding
territories are controlled by driving through them on UAZ cars," Ashot
Verdyan said.
The head of the fire-fighting service of the NKR rescuing service,
Samvel Ayrumyan, said that thanks to preventive events, the number of
fires has decreased considerably compared to last year. As of 4 July 13
hectares were burnt in Hadrut region, 6 hectares in Martuni, and 10
hectares in Mardakert.
The head of the Hadrut fire-fighting division of the NKR rescuing
service, Roman Mailyan, said that the fires more often originate in the
region of Horadiz station, between the military points of the NKR and
the Azerbaijani armed forces. "We do not have access there, this is why
we cannot speak about the reasons of fires exactly. When the fire moves
to our side, we take all measures to localize it and put off. Our
forces are on an intense duty. Servicemen and population help," Mailyan
said.
The head of the Martakert fire-fighting division of the NKR rescuing
service, Karen Grigoryan, said that four cases of fire have been
recorded, and the fire came from the Azerbaijani side. Brigades of
fire-fighters and rescuers took corresponding measures to localize and
extinguish the fires. Preventive measures are also taken. The head of
the Askeran fire-fighting division of the NKR rescuing service, Artur
Danielyan, said that as of 4 July there are no burnt cultivation
fields. However one fire, which originated on the territory controlled
by Azerbaijani forces, spread towards the positions of NKR defence
army, and then changed its direction because of the wind, and did not
reach the positions. In all, the fire spread on a territory of 15 km.
The fire was put off by fire-fighters and rescuers.
"It was visible that the fire was coming from the Azerbaijani side.
Apparently, after collecting the harvest, the season comes earlier in
lowlands, the Azerbaijanis burnt the field. We are ready to hold a
monitoring together with Azerbaijanis anytime, in order to find out the
real situation," Danielyan said.
A state office has been created, headed by NKR Agriculture Minister
Vahram Baghdasaryan, the aim of which is to collect all harvest without
losses. The office includes representatives of interested structures,
including the NKR rescuing service.
Earlier, the NKR Foreign Ministry directed a note to the office of the
personal representative of the acting OSCE chairman, in which it
expressed concern at the fires, and asked to hold a crisis monitoring
of the bordering zone with the aim of evaluating the actual situation
on the spot. The NKR Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the timely
interference of the office of the representative will allow to avoid a
repetition of last year's situation with the fires, which was used by
the Azerbaijani authorities with aims of propaganda, and became another
factor destabilizing the peace process.
In another note directed to the coordinator of OSCE activity in economy
and environment, the NKR Foreign Ministry called to take a principal
and a consistent position in the question of realization of
recommendations of the OSCE mission, which, as it was in the note,
"will allow reaching the aims and create an acting mechanism on
fighting fires along the bordering line, which can become an element of
trust."