Increase in Number of Fires in Armenia Compared to Last Year

For the second consecutive month, the heatwaves penetrating Armenia have created a fire hazard in the country's vegetative areas. The number of fires this year has significantly increased, particularly in grasslands. In the first half of 2017, there were 1,887 recorded fires, 1,702 in 2018, and during the first half of 2019, there were 3,554 fires, said the Deputy Director of the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Major General Vrej Gabrielyan, during a press briefing.

According to him, in June 2019 alone, there were 1,701 fires, which is 3.6 times higher than the figures from previous years. Despite the active use of the irrigation system and excessive moisture in Yerevan, the number of fires should have decreased; however, the situation was different.

Gabrielyan pointed out that the number of fires in vegetative areas has increased remarkably this year: in the first half of 2017, there were 585 cases, 540 in 2018, and in 2019, there were 2,104 fires—an increase of 1,364 incidents in vegetative lands, which is quite a serious indicator.

Referring to the burned area in vegetative zones, the Deputy Director mentioned that in 2017 the burned area was 1,064 hectares, in 2018 it was 737 hectares, and in the first half of 2019, it reached 4,245 hectares.

According to Vrej Gabrielyan, in general, our citizens show a certain indifference towards the environment and do not follow fire safety rules, and often, some of the fires are due to human factors. If the appropriate authorities in the Yerevan municipality carry out irrigation work in a timely manner, the number of fires will decrease.

Regarding the fire incident near the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, he noted that a significant amount of grassland is being lost, which is critical for the city. Previously, when that area was under the control of the Yerevan municipality, it was actively irrigated, but today it is not being irrigated.

We need to create an environment where every citizen understands that when utilizing green areas, they must not create fire hazard situations. Gabrielyan urged citizens to be more attentive to their surroundings and green areas and to avoid creating fire hazards.