Helicopters to combat forest fires will purchase in Kazakhstan

The Government of Kazakhstan will allocate over 623 million tenge ($ 1.4 million) from a reserve with a means of combating forest fires, Kommersant reports on Thursday with reference to the press service of the Prime Minister of the Republic.

Cabinet indicates that the emergence of forest fires in the country is becoming an increasingly significant problem.

Mi-8 helicopters adapted to rescue missions, as well as 26 devices for discharge of water on an external suspension, will purchase with the allocated money. “These measures will significantly increase the operational capabilities of special services in the fight against natural fires,” the government counts on.

In the meantime, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov instructed to revise the territory of the Forest Natural Reserve “Family of the Orman”, completely eliminate the foci of fire and smell, as well as evaluate the damage from the fire in the Abay region, reports “Kazinform”.

In the Abay region, extinguishing a strong forest fire continues. The fire began in the territory of the Altai Territory and switched to the territory of the Semlos of Orman on May 22. The total burning area is about 3500 hectares.