A ban on visiting forests has already been introduced in all districts of the Vitebsk region

Due to abnormal heat, more than 60% of the region's forest fund is classified as 4th degree fire hazard.

– A ban on visiting forests has been introduced in all districts, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations has switched to an enhanced duty mode, – said Alik Goncharov, First Deputy Head of the Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. – 23 consolidated teams have been formed to extinguish fires in natural ecosystems. Daily, 245 employees of the regional Ministry of Emergency Situations participate in raid inspections and monitoring of agricultural facilities, peat enterprises, recreation centers, health camps, horticultural associations, settlements in the forest zone and near peat deposits.

As of today, 13 forest and peat fires have been recorded in the region, covering an area of approximately 10 hectares. The main reason is the violation of safety requirements by citizens. For such actions or visiting forests during the ban period, a fine of up to 25 basic units is provided. If damage is caused, the fine is up to 50 basic units.

Ekaterina Knyazeva, "Vitebskiye Vesti"