At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the issue of ensuring fire safety during the heating season was reviewed. Minister for Emergency Situations Murat Mukhanov delivered a report. The akims of the North Kazakhstan, Turkistan, Akmola, and East Kazakhstan regions reported on the situation in the regions.

According to the Ministry for Emergency Situations, since October 1 of this year, a decrease of about 12% in the number of fires has been observed in the residential sector.

At the same time, Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that the decrease in the number of fires should not weaken preventive work.

“Every year during the heating season, the risk of fires increases. People actively use stoves and various heating appliances. Often, due attention is not paid to basic fire safety rules. Therefore, despite the ongoing preventive measures, the level of public responsibility for personal safety does not increase. With the onset of cold weather, the number of fires with tragic consequences grows. During the past winter period, there were quite a few such cases, including casualties and fatalities. At present, a decrease in the number of fires in the residential sector is observed. But this does not give a reason to weaken preventive measures. The heating season has just begun. Autumn is quite warm, and the cold weather is yet to come,” the Prime Minister noted.

• The Ministry for Emergency Situations was instructed to intensify the awareness-raising and preventive campaign and step up explanatory work to raise the public safety culture involving volunteers and public figures.
• The Ministries of Education, Science and Higher Education, and for Emergency Situations need to conduct interactive lessons and discussions in educational institutions so that students clearly know how to act in the event of a fire.
• On weekends and holidays, akimats, together with internal affairs bodies, should conduct raids and house-to-house inspections in the residential sector.
• The Ministry for Emergency Situations must take more effective response measures for violations of fire safety rules.

The Prime Minister paid special attention to the homes of socially vulnerable segments of the population. It was noted that the causes of most fires are un-repaired stoves, uncleaned chimneys, poor condition of electrical wiring, and unauthorized connection to power transmission and gas supply lines. In the Turkistan, West Kazakhstan, Mangystau, Zhambyl, Karaganda regions and the city of Shymkent, the instruction on installing free fire detectors in such houses was not performed at the proper level. In this regard, the head of the Government instructed regional akimats, together with the Ministries for Emergency Situations and Labor and Social Protection of the Population, to update the lists of such houses within a week, conduct repeated inspections with the elimination of identified violations, and find funds for the purchase and installation of detectors.

The issue of household gas cylinders was considered separately. Last heating season, seven cylinder explosions occurred, the main cause of which was a violation of safe operation requirements. About 350,000 cylinders have been used for 40–50 years with a standard service life of 20 years and require urgent replacement. The Ministry of Industry was instructed to resolve the issue of production. Currently, a plant for their production has been launched in Kokshetau, and similar production facilities are planned to be opened in Atyrau and Almaty. Now it is necessary to establish the replacement of cylinders in private houses and catering points. It is also required to take measures to regulate the procedure for the withdrawal and disposal of household cylinders. The Ministry of Energy, together with interested state bodies, was instructed to develop a clear mechanism for updating, withdrawing, and controlling the circulation of gas cylinders in all regions within a month, and akimats were instructed to take implementation under local control.

Housing rented by migrant workers also requires increased attention. Such housing is often less safe and dilapidated: in the capital alone, 860 such facilities are registered, and last winter about 30 fires occurred in them due to wiring shorts, careless handling of fire, and failure to observe elementary safety rules. Akimats, together with the Ministries of Internal Affairs and for Emergency Situations, need to take such places of residence, including barrack-type dormitories, under special control and regularly conduct raids to identify risks and take operational measures.

In addition, attention was paid to the gasification of the population.

“In the Address to the People, the Head of State noted the importance of continuing work on the gasification of the population. It is necessary to ensure the installation of gas equipment in strict compliance with all safety standards. Every house with a gas heating system must have a gas leak warning detector, certified boilers, and appliances. Gas services are obliged to organize proper work to control the safe use of gas in houses. I instruct regional akimats to take necessary measures in this direction,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Also, akimats, together with the Ministry for Emergency Situations, were instructed to continue the monthly fire safety campaign in the residential sector until the end of November, first of all taking under control the places of residence of students—dormitories, hostels, and educational facilities. In general, the Ministry for Emergency Situations was instructed to ensure effective coordination of state bodies and akimats on issues of fire prevention during the heating season.

The coordination of work is assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev.

#The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Government session #Heat supply #Ministry for Emergency Situation

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