TOMSK, August 6 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian government will consider the federal targeted program for fire safety until 2017 on August 9, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting devoted to the fighting against the forest fires here on Monday.
“The federal targeted program for fire safety until 2017 was drafted. On August 9, the program will be discussed at a meeting of the government. It is important so that this program will take into account not only the current situation, but will also outline the scope of measures, which we will take primarily to prevent the fires and fight their aftermaths soon,” he said.
The prime minister also noted that the aviation force used for fire-fighting should grow. Six more amphibious airplanes Be-200 should be put into operation. He recalled that the current fleet of special aviation numbers about 100 aircraft.
Opening the meeting Medvedev recalled that he had formulated several instructions after the previous similar meeting on July 27. “Upon results of this work I gave several instructions to the government. Today I will give an instruction, under which additional fire-fighting measures should be taken in order to check fire safety requirements in those settlements, which are situated near the forests and for the operation of the warning system about the emergency situation,” Medvedev explained.
“I also instructed to work out a decision over the credit debts amassed in Russian federal constituents since the previous year,” he added. “Additional funds will be allocated from the federal budget, and starting from 2013 for a higher numerical strength of the airborne fire service in the regions,” he said.
“Meanwhile, a special fire-fighting regime should be introduced timely in the forests, settlements, parks and countryside communities, additional protective measures should be taken for children’s institutions and other social agencies, which turned out to be in the fire and fire smoke zone,” the prime minister stated.
Speaking on the fire situation in the Siberian region, Medvedev noted that “the current summer became abnormal in view of its droughts and air temperatures.” “The situation is quite difficult. In these days the fire hazard is reported in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area and some other territories. Moreover, the fire area and the number of big fires unfortunately do not reduce,” he underlined.