The high-position forestry bureaucrat follows with statement that necessary amount of fuel and food was supplied timely, as well as repair of equipment and fire prevention activities were done.
"It seems that it was a long time ago since chief forest managers, seated in Moscow, were in forest, otherwise they would not have been so optimistic, – comments Vladimir Zakharov, ISEU Forest Campaign coordinator. – The easiest way to learn about the real situation would be to ask directly those working on location".
Aviation Service of Forest Protection (AviaLesookhrana) experts have their own opinion on the issue. Even is the number of forest fires is lower this year, this does not necessarily mean positive assessment of the work done. Absolute assessment, with favorable weather conditions impact taken in account, gives different understanding of the year results. With such favorable weather, number of fires might have been much less, forest fire experts say.
True situation with funding was not also as optimistic as painted by Mr.Kasparov. Forest firemen calculations show that money was enough for only a month of work. Only weather conditions allowed to "stretch" the funds until August. After that there was a silent order – to fly out to location that are closer to the airports. The situation was saved only due to the absence of the autumn peaks of the fires. All this helped to cover up lags in the funding policy.
Indirectly, mr.Kasparov confirms these comments. He admits, that the worst fire situation was in Ural Federal region due to weather conditions – high temperature, no rain, and strong wind. This leads to conclusion that overall situation with forest fires in Russia is a matter of luck and weather.