Fire in Aravik National Park: Felix Tsolakyan Calls Emergency Meeting of Operational Working Group

On August 11, at 21:00, Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakyan convened an emergency meeting of the operational working group. The meeting was prompted by a large fire that broke out in a forest near the Lehvaz-Vardanidzor highway in the Meghri region of Syunik province.

According to preliminary data, the fire is affecting vegetation, including fir and oak forests, located in a severely fragmented and inaccessible area. Currently, the fire covers a front width of two kilometers and a length of one and a half kilometers, with a risk of further spread.

Firefighters are combating the blaze, with the staff of the Aravik National Park joining their efforts. Felix Tsolakyan, head of the operational staff, emphasized two key points to the members of the working group: preparation work, the mobilization of forces, and the execution of firefighting operations. Human resources must be put into action, and necessary equipment and tools need to be centralized at the scene.

Following an analysis of the situation and professional discussions, the operational working group planned tasks according to the involved departments. The need for heavy machinery was particularly emphasized during the discussions, which is essential for delineating the fire zones and preventing further spread.

Due to the challenging access caused by the terrain, there needs to be an adequate water supply for firefighting efforts, especially when fire trucks cannot be used, to carry out firefighting with water sprayers. Air surveillance will be conducted to monitor the directions and scales of fire spread.

Operational working group leader Felix Tsolakyan instructed members to maintain operational communication with Colonel Hovhannes Emishyan, the secretary of the operational staff coordinating the on-site work. Due to frequent disruptions in mobile and internet connectivity in the fire area, an emergency communication vehicle from the Ministry of Emergency Situations has been deployed to the fire zone for constant communication.

By command of the Minister of Emergency Situations, Rescue Service units have been placed in a state of high readiness. At the end of the meeting, Felix Tsolakyan announced that he would report the results of the discussions to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

It should be noted that on July 16, an operational working group was established by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to implement measures aimed at reducing disaster risks, preventing potential emergencies, and mitigating their consequences, which is headed by Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakyan. The working group includes deputy ministers from the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, and other relevant officials as necessary.