“Last year, a two times increase in the number of people killed in fires was noted in Atyrau region, in Almaty, East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions — by 25%, Zhambyl region — by 8%. At the same time, over 60% of fires occur in the residential sector, including 40% — due to careless handling of fire by the population, 20% due to violation of fire safety rules during operation of furnaces and 16% due to electrical equipment,” said Minister Kassymov.

In preparation for the winter period, fire safety months were held in advance in September and December 2018. Since the beginning of the heating period, there has been a decrease in the number of fires by 2%, of deaths by 27%.

In addition, the department is implementing a set of preventive measures to prevent fires in the residential sector.

“To coordinate this work in all regions, as well as in the Committee on Emergency Situations, headquarters were created Feb. 6. The analysis was carried out, the most problematic streets, neighborhoods, and areas of settlements in terms of fire safety were identified. On weekends, taking into account the location of the majority of citizens at home, practically the entire staff of civil protection, including administrations, performs a courtyard bypass for conducting explanatory work on fire safety measures,” said Kassymov.

Employees of private fire services, organizations engaged in services in the field of fire safety and volunteers are involved in this work.

“Only over the past weekend, we carried out preventive work in 107 thousand private houses (including 7.6 thousand ‘temporary houses’), over 49 thousand violations were revealed. At the same time, tenants of more than 13 thousand houses refused to inspect the furnace equipment,” the minister said.

Additionally, with the use of fire fighting equipment, inspections of the access roads in the private sector and fire hydrants are carried out.

The state of objects of high level of fire risk, which include schools, hospitals, kindergartens, large shopping centers, livelihoods and power structures, is under constant control.

“The State Fire Control, a staff of 933 inspectors, checked more than 40 thousand objects last year, revealed 139 thousand violations, brought to administrative responsibility 21 thousand officials. More than 2 thousand lawsuits were sent to the courts to suspend the operation of objects that do not comply with fire safety regulations. As a result, out of 1,244 objects of trade, 1,060 large shopping centers or 74% completely eliminated violations. On 138 objects, on claims of the Emergency Situations Department the judicial procedures are being conducted to suspend them,” Kassymov said.

In addition, to improve the security of objects with a massive stay of people in July 2018, a joint Roadmap was approved by a joint order of the ministries of the Interior, National Economy, Finance, Industry and Infrastructure Development and the National Bank. As part of this document, 89 changes and additions have been made to the state standards of the architectural and construction sphere in terms of toughening fire safety requirements for objects with a massive presence of people.