Abnormal heat expected in Kazakhstan as equipment and personnel shortages persist

Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstan is facing an abnormally hot summer, but local forestry units are lacking personnel and equipment, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev said at a government meeting.

“According to Kazhydromet forecasts, this summer will be abnormally hot. In this regard, regional akimats must take all necessary measures to maintain fire safety in forests,” the minister stated.

Since the beginning of the year, 32 forest fires have already been registered in the country's state forest fund areas.

According to Nyssanbayev, the government has begun preparing forces and resources for full readiness in order to prevent large-scale wildfires.

However, the minister emphasized that the allocated funding does not fully meet current needs, and he appealed directly to the Prime Minister for support.

“Dear Olzhas Abaevich (Bektenov - ed.), I ask for your assistance in resolving this urgent issue. An additional 11 billion tenge is needed,” Nyssanbayev said.

He noted that 75 firefighting vehicles are currently out of service, while 132 out of 314 vehicles need to be decommissioned—42 percent of the entire fleet.

The minister stressed the importance of updating regional equipment through leasing programs.

In addition, he pointed to a shortage of personnel in the forest protection service.

“As was the case last year, this remains a pressing issue. The number of forest protection personnel in the East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions still does not meet the required standard,” he said, underlining the urgency of the situation.

Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations Kegen Tursynbayev also warned that the summer will be dry, with high grass growth.

“This means an elevated risk of fire remains. At present, an operations team is working around the clock in the ministry’s command center. As with last year, the main focus is on prevention and early detection of fire outbreaks,” Tursynbayev said.

Recall that a wildfire covering an estimated area of 5,000 hectares, sparked by the burning of grass, nearly destroyed a forest in the Kostanay region in October 2024.