Barbecuers in the Forest Must Clear the Area of Vegetation, Expert Appeals to Food and Drink Loving Public

The primary cause of wildfires, particularly in 2022-2023, is mainly human-induced. This was stated by Sevak Markosyan, the Director of the Armenian Ministry of Environment's 'Hayantar' SNCO, during a press conference on July 15.

“Wildfires primarily arise from burning rubbish, particularly in certain areas, and from other reckless actions, which later become uncontrollable and escalate rapidly,” he noted.

Sevak Markosyan urged those organizing their leisure activities in the forest or businesses to ensure that fire prevention measures are adequate. He suggested that if people want to enjoy the wild outdoors, they must refrain from lighting campfires.

“However, since we are Armenian and we love to eat, drink, and party, at least for such events, it is essential first to clear the area of any flammable materials and, finally, extinguish the fire with a large amount of water. But this should be the absolute last resort, as such actions are not encouraged by us, because, against human will, even a light breeze could cause the fire to spread over a large area, requiring days to extinguish,” emphasized the SNCO Director.

Addressing the issue of litter remaining after events in nature, he pointed out that there has been a positive trend recently, with people cleaning up after themselves and taking their trash with them, even if a bin is not nearby.