A large-scale forest fire is being extinguished in the Kyiv region. The fire is being extinguished in the Exclusion Zone. The radiation background is normal.
This was reported today, May 8, by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
It is noted that due to strong gusts of wind, the fire is rapidly spreading across the territory and covering new blocks of forest. The approximate area of the fire is over 1,100 hectares. The situation is complicated by dry weather, strong winds and mine danger in certain areas of the territory.
“In particular, work is temporarily not being carried out in some forest blocks due to the threat of explosive objects,” the report says.
The State Emergency Service, special equipment, and other services were involved in extinguishing the fire. Rescuers are localizing the sources of ignition to prevent the fire from spreading further.
A total of 71 pieces of equipment and 327 personnel are working. Drinking water has been organized on site for rescuers and everyone involved in extinguishing the fire.
Radiation background in the fire area remains within normal limits A safe and natural level of radiation is considered to be from 0.1 to 0.3 μSv/h (microsievert per hour) — from 0.19 to 0.35 μSv/h, the Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve informed. The radiation situation in the Exclusion Zone can be monitored in real time on the “EcoThreat” website.
As of 11:00, the radiation situation in Ukraine (in particular, in the north of the Kyiv region) remains stable . According to data received from the National Hydrometeorological Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the level of gamma radiation is within normal limits throughout the country, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported.
“I want to address the media that provide information that a radioactive cloud is heading towards the Kyiv region. This is absolutely false information. The National Hydrometeorological Service, as well as the radiochemical protection units, are constantly taking measurements on site, monitoring the radioactive situation, and there is no increase in the concentration of radioactive substances,” Oleksandr Khorunzhy, spokesman for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said on the air of the Public Service.
He also said that given the scale of the fire, it is impossible to immediately determine the cause. Law enforcement officers will identify possible perpetrators.
“Dry vegetation, bushes are burning, and there is no peak fire. Because a peak fire is the most terrible fire. Because the fire is actually thrown across the crowns of trees and spreads very quickly, especially when there is wind. And there is wind now,” said Khorunzhy.
As of 3:00 p.m., the estimated area of the fire, which occurred as a result of the fall of two UAVs in the territory of the Chernobyl Reserve, is about 1,180 hectares. The situation is complicated by strong gusts of wind, the presence of explosive objects, and the specifics of the territory of the exclusion zone.
331 people and 75 pieces of equipment were involved in the liquidation. The work continues continuously, the Chernobyl Reserve informed.
As of 5:00 p.m., according to data received from the National Hydrometeorological Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the level of gamma radiation is within normal limits throughout the country.
It was previously reported that weather forecasters declared an emergency level of fire danger in Kyiv and the region from May 6 to 8. The weather will contribute to a high probability of fires occurring and spreading in nature, in the presence of open fire.
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is a territory that is prohibited for free access, which was heavily contaminated with long-lived radionuclides as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The zone was established in 1986, after the evacuation of the population from a 30-kilometer zone around the station. The area of the territory is 2,576.9 km². The zone includes the north of the Vyshgorod district of the Kyiv region (where the power plant, the cities of Chernobyl and Pripyat are located) and part of the Zhytomyr region (to the border with Belarus).