Ahead of the elements: prevention and combat of forest fires

      In spring, the area burned was three times smaller compared to 2025. Currently, a special fire season has been established in more than 50 regions of Russia. During the regime, access to the forest is strictly prohibited. The highest number of fires is recorded in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Tomsk Region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. A state of emergency has been declared in these regions and their municipal districts. In spring, the area burned was three times smaller compared to 2025. The efficiency of extinguishing forest fires is currently estimated at 77%: this is the proportion of fires extinguished in less than a day from the moment of detection. A total of more than 4,800 people, over 290 units of special equipment, and more than 50 aircraft are involved in extinguishing fires on forest fund lands. "For extinguishing complex forest fires in remote areas, artificial precipitation is being induced, and explosive work is being carried out to create mineralized strips. If weather conditions permit, measures for artificial precipitation have been agreed upon in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Irkutsk and Tomsk Regions, and the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Explosive work is being conducted in the Krasnoyarsk Territory," said Alexey Venglinsky, Deputy Head of Rosleskhoz, at a meeting of the Federal Headquarters for coordinating forest fire extinguishing activities. Record funding has been allocated for the prevention and fight against forest fires in 2026. Funds are provided for the creation and strengthening of aviation units, enhancing their material and technical base, forming firebreaks, as well as for aerial patrols. In addition, in 2026, 19 regions will receive additional funds for activities related to the prevention and elimination of fires. Preserving forests and protecting them from fires is aided by the national project "Ecological Well-Being." Under the national project, regions are allocated funds for updating the fleet of forestry and fire-fighting equipment, developing forest nurseries and seed production centers. Thanks to these measures, since 2021, the area of planted forest in Russia has exceeded the area lost due to fires and logging.

      In 9 out of 10 cases, the cause of a forest fire is human. Throwing a match or leaving a glass bottle on the grass in the sun means becoming the cause of a forest fire. Therefore, while resting outdoors, it is important to follow fire safety rules: do not leave or burn trash or dry grass, do not light fires in fire-prone seasons and in unprepared places, do not throw unextinguished matches and cigarette butts on the ground, and do not use pyrotechnics. If you discover a fire in the forest, it is necessary to notify everyone nearby as soon as possible and also report to the forest protection hotline: 8-800-100-94-00.