Robin & Margo Discuss CO2 & Siberian Wildfires May 5, 2020

Robin & Margo Discuss CO2 & Siberian Wildfires May 5, 2020

No winter in Moscow; 


massive wildfires in Siberia

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/03/moscow-didnt-get-a-winter-this-year/

https://siberiantimes.com/ecology/others/news/wildfires-critical-in-siberia-and-russian-far-east-up-to-ten-times-worse-than-last-year/?fbclid=IwAR2oN9wchBH7_V6yU4kMPYuIOHrRbo_IFULrItzfl1oU8u31-bLoYj1qLLk

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/05/we-should-probably-talk-about-the-huge-wildfires-in-siberia-right-now/?fbclid=IwAR1rFuDJ7f3_l-7V9_apNMeeE5B-R9pp5yK9ZMWRrMBGlSjh18iCskOEWbA

Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year

People are flouting coronavirus lockdown and start fires, warn officials.

In Krasnoyarsk region ten times as much territory was ablaze compared to the same time last year, in Trans-Baikal region three times as much land is hit amounting to 200,000 hectares, in the Amur Region the number of outbreaks increased by one and a half times. Pictures from the Republic of Tuva by Tuva Ministry of Emergencies 


Disturbing pictures and video shows the scale of wildfires engulfing Siberia and the Russian Far East after the winter snow melt. 


With the government’s focus on coronavirus, President Vladimir Putin called for 

vigilance over the annual challenge from forest and steppe fires worsening due to 

climate warming.


Emergencies Minister Evgeny Zinichev warned in a video conference with the 

president that a combination of factors now poses a threat to many regions of 

Russia. 


A critical situation with fires has developed in Siberia and the Far East,’ he warned. 

Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year
April 2020 wildfires along the Trans-Siberian railway. Pictures: Trans-Baikal Volunteer Forest Firefighters


In Krasnoyarsk region ten times as much territory was ablaze on 27 April compared with last year, Zinichev said. In TransBaikal three times as much land is hit amounting 

to 200,000 hectares. In the Amur Region, the number of outbreaks increased by 

one and a half times.

The main reason, of course, is unauthorised and uncontrolled agricultural fires,’ 

he told the president. ‘A less snowy winter, an abnormal winter, and insufficient soil moisture are factors that create the conditions for the transition of landscape fires 

to settlements.’

Zinichev spoke of abnormally hot weather and strong winds which seriously 

complicated the threat. 


But he called for tougher punishments for those starting fires which got out of 

control, and caused ‘significant damage or even death’.

Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year
Aftermath of the Irkutsk wildfires. Pictures: EMERCOM Irkutsk region


In April, fires hit Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Altai, Trans-Baikal, Tomsk, Omsk, and Krasnoyarsk regions as well as Altai Republic.

Some 50 houses were destroyed in Novosibirsk region and 27 in Kemerovo. All 

residents were evacuated.

Both Novosibirsk and Chita suffered smoke pollution from the fires. 

Sergei Anoprienko, head of the federal forest agency Rosleskhoz, directly blamed 

the coronavirus lockdown for the rise in fires. 

People self-isolated outdoors and forgot about fire safety rules,’ he said.

In some regions, the temperature is already around 30C, and people just can’t 

keep themselves in their apartments. 

People rushed outdoors, and as a result we have a surge of thermal points.’

Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year
Military firefighters in the Republic of Tuva. Pictures: EMERCOM Tuva


Humans were the main cause of fires, including burning of dry grass by farmers, 

even though this has been banned, he said. 


The most difficult situation is now in Trans-Baikal region and Buryatia,’ said 

Anoprienko.


An emergency mode has been in place since mid-April in TransBaikal. 


Despite all the regulatory prohibitions, and the agricultural fires have been banned since 2015, people are burning dry grass. Today there are 75 forest fires, 73 of which 

are federal forest territory. 


In total, on April 28 of this year, 3,339 outbreaks were recorded, compared with 

last year – 1,960. The area covered by fires since the beginning of the year is 

477,000 hectares. Last year, on this day was 382,000 hectares.’


He spoke as Russia is going into the annual May holidays spanning the period 

1-11 May, and while unprecedented lockdown measures are imposed across the 

country, many people are expected to lee their towns and cities for the countryside. 


An abnormally warm winter, an arid spring, and the human factor have made adjustments to our forecasts,’ he said. ‘In May – June, a dangerous period usually 

begins in Siberia. Regions at risk are, as usual, Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk regions, Khakassia and Tuva republics (and) Omsk, Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions.


‘We can keep talking about the forecast for a very long time, but the actual fire 

situation will literally depend on us and you – on how we will behave.’  

Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year
Roe deer pictured escaping wildfire in the Trans-Baikal region near Arakhley lakes. Picture: Pavel Pilot


In some regions winds of up to 80km an hour coupled with temperatures of 25C 

are spreading fires.


Resident of village Ivan-Ozero village, Pavel Kobelev, told Chita.ru that the fires 

on the border with Buryatia started since on 5 April. 


He showed officials the fires on a map and filmed them with a drone,  but claimed 

they did not react. 


As a result to April 16 the fire came close to villages near the Arakhley lakes, and 

the smoke covered Chita city. 


The fire was extinguished on 18 April 18 four or five days later there were new outbreaks.

Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year
Wildfires in Irkutsk region. Pictures: AIST-TV


Currently around 600 people are fire fighting, with local residents assisting despite 

the quarantine restrictions. 


Locals in Lesnaya are battling for the second week stop infernos reaching nearby 

fuel storages including at a local military facility. 


In Irkutsk region, close to Lake Baikal, cases of arson have been established. 


Dear the village of Zarechnoye, officials found traces of flammable liquid linked to 

forest. Arrests have been made. 


A big wildfire in Shelekhov district was caused by an unattended campfire left by 

people who rafted down river despite the lockdown. 


The arsonists will be fined not only the amount of damage caused, but also the cost of extinguishing the fire, which can count up to several hundred thousand roubles.

Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year


Wildfires ‘critical’ in Siberia and Russian Far East, up to ten times worse than last year
Wildfires in the Republic of Tuva. Pictures: Tuva24


In Irkutsk region, the mayor of Ust-Kut town Alexander Dushin accused four district officials of attempting to start a wildfire after they were caught with gas canisters. 


The four officials have gone missing and investigators are seeking to unravel the 

murky case. 


In Tuva, 100 military troops were drafted in to fight fires at the request of the head 

of the republic, Sholban Kara-ool. 


They prevented a threat to the village of Boyarovka. 


For two days, the Mi-8 AMTSH Terminator helicopter with a spillway device was 

used, but because of the strong smoke, it is not safe anymore, so they continue 

the fire fight on land. 

The battle is complicated by the terrain – hills with dense forest.


WILDFIRES IN NOVOSIBIRSK AND TRANS-BAIKAL REGIONS, CREDIT 

EMERCOM


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wordpress Social Share Plugin powered by Ultimatelysocial
RSS