Fire in the Zhetysu mountains is being extinguished from the air

Firefighting operations are underway in the Zhetysu mountains, where difficult terrain and inaccessibility in certain sectors are hampering efforts to extinguish a significant blaze.

Rescuers are actively working to eliminate remaining hotspots and prevent the fire from spreading further. The operation involves a coordinated response from 52 personnel and 11 pieces of equipment drawn from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the forestry service, and local executive bodies. To combat the fire in the mountainous area, aviation units from the National Security Committee (KNB) Border Service and "Kazaviaspas" of the MES have been deployed.

Aerial support has been crucial, with a total of 11 water drops conducted, amounting to 33 tons of water released onto the fire. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, there is currently no threat to populated areas, and the situation remains under the department's control.

This incident follows recent steppe fires recorded in other districts of the Karaganda region, including Shet, Aktogay, Bukhar-Zhyrau, and Karkaraly. In those instances, a larger contingent of 620 personnel and 134 units of equipment were deployed. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on Wednesday, August 19, that the fire in those areas had been contained, successfully halting its spread.