Foresters keep quenching smoldering trees on Mokhnatka mount

40 foresters continue quenching smoldering roots and trunks of the trees on Mokhnatka mount in Ile-Alatau national park, Tengrinews.kz reports citing deputy head of state fire control department of Almaty Emergency Situations Department Nurlan Madyarov. Madyarov stressed that the situation was under control. “Roots and trunks are still smoldering. Fire rekindles in some areas because of a strong wind. But everything is under control,” he said. Besides, there is a staff of Almaty Emergency Situations Department near Mokhnatka mount that is operating round-the-clock. “It is located next to the gondola route, from where the whole mount can seen. There are five vehicles and three tanker lorries there,” Madyarov added. The massive fire on Mokhnatka Mount in the Ile-Alatau National Park in the vicinities of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city, was reported at about 10 p.m. on August 22. 710 people, 62 vehicles and 4 helicopters were involved in the quenching operation. The fire was a third category one. Almaty oblast territorial inspection of forestry and hunting management along with fire-fighting authorities of Almaty oblast started an investigation to identify the cause of the fire and evaluate the damage caused to the national park. Lasting hot weather and presence of huge amounts of dry trees are considered the main cause of the fire.