Prevention of human casualties in fires

The prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region, local executive and administrative bodies, in cooperation with other subjects of crime prevention, have taken a number of measures over the past year aimed at improving the organization of work, increasing the level of protection of the population and territories from fires and other emergencies, and maintaining an adequate level of citizen safety.

A significant number of events are planned for the current year.

However, statistical data and inspections of the causes and conditions of fires in which citizens die indicate that there are a number of shortcomings and omissions in the preventive activities of the interested subjects, which negatively affect the effectiveness of the system of crime prevention in this area of ​​legal relations established in the region.

Thus, over two months of the new year, 17 people died in fires in the region. The main causes of fires continue to be the operation of faulty stove heating, electrical wiring, as well as careless handling of fire and disregard for elementary safety measures by the victims themselves.

For example, on January 19 of the current year, a resident of the village of M., born in 1965, died in a fire in the village of Serkovitsy, Tolochin district. An inspection of the causes and conditions of the fire showed that, despite the preventive measures taken against both the citizen himself and his household, they could not prevent the tragic consequences.

At the same time, it is gratifying that thanks to the timely work of authorized prevention subjects, it was possible to save the life of a person with a disability of group 1.

For instance, during a visit to the household by employees of the Tolochin District Department for Emergency Situations in October last year, it was found that the residents were intoxicated, smoking in the house, and had a slovenly appearance.

Fire safety violations were identified – the autonomous fire alarm with a sound signal output was not working. It was decided by the commission to isolate

of a Group 1 disabled person, who was subsequently taken to a general-type nursing home in Orsha, where he is currently residing.

As established later, the main cause of the fire was the resident's disregard for the information received during preventive discussions about the inadmissibility of smoking in bed and the possible severe consequences of alcohol abuse.

Senior Assistant Regional Prosecutor
Natalia Kolpakova.