Arai Mountain Fire Still Uncontained After Two Days. 100 Villagers Join Efforts

On August 21, efforts continued to extinguish the fire that broke out at 09:16 on August 20 at the foot of Arai Mountain in the Kotayk region. Two operational groups from the regional rescue administration of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) and two firefighting units were dispatched to the scene.

As of 18:30, approximately 150 hectares of vegetation were still burning in the affected area. By 23:20, six operational groups from the regional rescue administration, seven firefighting units, and two rescue teams from the special rescue center of the MES were involved in firefighting efforts, totaling 82 firefighters. Additionally, residents—15 from Saralanj village, 30 from Ara village, 20 from Zoravan village, and 15 from Yeghvard city, as well as 20 residents from nearby villages in the Aragatsotn region and 18 forestry workers—joined the efforts.

The fire was contained by 02:15. Approximately 1300 hectares of vegetation were burning in Kotayk, while 500 hectares were affected in Aragatsotn. At 09:50, a new flare-up of the fire was discovered in the section leading from the cemetery of Zoravan village to Arai Mountain.

The fire was contained by 18:15, and monitoring has been established. Additional information will be provided.