Forest fires raging at seven locations across Georgia
During last 10 days forest fires were reported at 43 locations of Georgia, on a total area of 546 hectares, said the Minister of Environment Protection Levan Davitashvili earlier today. Photo: Emergency Management Service.
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Forest fires are currently raging at seven locations across Georgia, reports the Georgian Emergency Management Service.
During last 10 days, fires were reported at 43 locations of Georgia, on a total area of 546 hectares, said the Minister of Environment Protection Levan Davitashvili earlier today. He added that 18 new fires were reported only yesterday.
"One of the severe consequences of climate change is the increasing number of forest fires," said Davitashvili.
Levan Davitashvili said that rainfall in Georgia has decreased some 20-40 per cent, and added that the risk of emerging forest fires is high because of the dried soil and grass. Davitashvili urged the population to be cautious. The Ministry of Environment Protection also urged the population not to burn waste left over from work on plots, pastures and lawns.
Georgian Emergency Management Service says that forest fires in the protected areas of Borjomi-Kharagauli forest and Kobuleti managed reserve have been extinguished. An area of 1,500 square metres was burnt in Borjomi-Kharagauli forest, while about three hectares were burnt in Kobuleti managed reserve.
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The number of forest fires and the area of burnt territories are distributed among regions as follows:
- Kakheti - 18 locations, 168 hectares
- Samtskhe - Javakheti - one location, 1 hectare
- Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svantei - three locations, 60 hectares
- Kvemo Kartli - five locations, 65 hectares
- Shida Kartli - two locations, 15 hectares
- Guria - four locations, 8.5 hectares
- Imereti - five locations, 16 hectares
- Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti - four locations, 200 hectares
- Mtskheta-Mtianeti - one location, 10 hectares
About 1000 firefighters, 150 foresters and four helicopters are involved in combat against forest fires throughout Georgia at the moment.
Two helicopters have been deployed to combat a fire near the village of Vakijvari in the Guria region. There are about 120 firefighters at the place to put out the fire.
30 modern fine engines which Georgia bought from German Magirus Company, have entered the country. Starting from the year the fire engines will be used in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Borjomi, Rustavi and Signagi. The fire engines are fitted with a high and low pressure pump, have a 4.5 tonne water tank and a 300 liter foam tank. All necessary fire-rescue equipment is installed in the vehicles.
A fire that broke out at the construction shop on Kavtaradze Street in Tbilisi on Monday night, has been extinguished.
One active fire remains at the village of Ormotsi, Ateni Gorge, in the central Georgia, has reported the Emergency Management Service of Georgia today.
One active forest fire remains in Khelvachauri municipality of the country’s Black Sea region of Adjara, reports the Georgian Emergency Management Service. A total of 50 firefighters and four fire trucks have been brought in to extinguish the fire.
Several groups of firefighters, one border police helicopter and 10 employees of the Border Police are trying to extinguish a fire which broke out today in Arkhoti Gorge in the mountainous Khevsureti region of eastern Georgia.
Ten firefighting vehicles and 125 firefighters are still working to fully extinguish a fire that broke out yesterday near the village of Latali in Georgia’s highland region of Svaneti.