A large-scale forest fire in the Kharkiv region: authorities prepare for evacuation

On the evening of May 4, the head of the Regional State Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, reported an emergency situation in the Izium district. The forest caught fire as a result of the detonation of munitions left by Russian troops during the occupation.

The evacuation of local residents is being prepared as the fire has already reached residential houses near the forest, – the official noted.

According to him, units of the State Emergency Service are working at the scene, including pyrotechnic teams, as well as employees and equipment from the forestry enterprises.

Due to very strong winds, the fire is spreading rapidly. The situation remains difficult but controlled.

Incidentally, the State Emergency Service of the Kharkiv region had earlier reported that as of May 4, efforts are ongoing to extinguish 11 fires in the region’s forests, 5 of which are related to enemy shelling.

The service reported that in the morning the enemy attacked forest areas in the Borova community of the Izium district with multiple launch rocket systems. The shelling resulted in fires over an area of more than 2 hectares in Borova forestry and over 5 hectares in the Chervonooskil Regional Landscape Park.