Wildfire rate jumps 41.5% in UB

In connection with the dry and warmer season, wildfire risks are high due to dryness and human error in the city...

In connection with the dry and warmer season, wildfire risks are high due to dryness and human error in the city. As of now, the Ulaanbaatar Emergency Department received over 200 emergency calls related to wildfires in the green zones of the city. As a result, wildfires damaged 56 areas due to yellow grass burning.

At provincial level, 23 wildfires occurred in 21 soums of nine provinces, damaging 54,018 hectares of land and winter shelters of three families, and killed one person. Compared to the same period of the previous year, wildfire rates increased by 41.5 percent this year.

Specialist of the Preventive Cooperation Division of the Ecological Police Office G.AnarErdene said, “In Ulaanbaatar, seven hectares were burnt in Artsat Valley of KhanUul District, eight hectares in Ongon Valley of Erdenemandal soum of Arkhangai Province, and Galuut and Khashaat of Yamaat bag of Erdenetsogt soum of Bayankhongor Province. Local ecological officers, emergency services and local residents are working to extinguish the fires on their own initiative.”

Intentional or unintentionally causing wildfires is considered a crime in according to the Article No.24.7 of the Criminal Code, with a sentence of up to 12 years in prison depending on the type of offense and the amount of damage. The Ecological Police Department warns citizens not to burn open fires, completely extinguish open fires, matches and cigarettes, prevent forest and steppe fires, and not go near green zones until June 10.