Fires on agricultural lands, Xhaçka: Intentional, punishment and for landowners

Published: Friday, 28 September 2018 17:39

The full speech of the Minister of Defense, Olta Xhaçka in the press release regarding the fires recorded in the last days:

Protection and reduction of CE factors (in this context and fires) is among the priorities of the country's governance. Ministry of Defence and the General Directorate of Civil Emergencies has organized the work with local government structures in order to take measures to cope with the situation of fires during the summer months. The novelty of the measures taken for this work organization, during this year was also the equipment of Cougar helicopters with buckets of water of a capacity of 2500 liters of water each, to extinguish the fires.

The fire in the Seman forest was the first real test of this new equipment and the result was the one we expected. The intervention was efficient and the fires were completely managed and in a very short time. Also this year, we put on the alert all the tools and infrastructure that we possess, multiplying like never before the firefighting capacity. The largest part of these organizational measures achieved that this summer passed without huge fires, just as it has happened over the past few years. Today, I have called this Press Conference to share with you and the public a concern about the situation of fires during the end of September.
Now, that we are in Autumn and the temperatures have dropped significantly, we are facing a phenomenon as paradoxical as well as criminal, with fires that are engulfing pastures and farmlands. Our data show a worrying increase in fires during this period. Only in the period of time from 10 to 27 September, a total of 91 fires are verified and an amount of 262 ha were burned out, of which pasture, shrubs, meadow, forest, orchards, farmland, fodder for livestock etc. were burnt. Also a number of 1162 old and young olive trees have been burned.

In order to quench these fire hot spots so far are engaged about 100 firefighting vehicles and 500 people from local structures of Firefighters Service, Civil Emergencies and structures of the National Protected Areas Agency, and of course effectives of our Armed Forces. A contribution has also been given by residents of areas affected by fires, whom I warmly thank not only for their help, but also for the civil accountability they have shown in the protection of common property. In 4 cases of fire, in which it was impossible to quench the fire with the existing logistical and human capacities, air operation was carried out to quench the fire with our Cougar helicopters.
Of course, any sound minded person in this case would exclude the fires by natural causes.

Our information leads us to believe that it is arson from people with criminal tendencies, and due to property disputes or fire aimed at creating spaces for new pastures, based on the superstition that burning the grass brings enrichment and fertility.

Apart from being wrong and an unlawful decision which will have grave consequences on anyone who puts others in danger and harms common property through irresponsibility or bad intent, all scientific or practical views show that burning the land brings more harm than good. Meanwhile, from a legal standpoint this is considered damage to national development resources, which are related to the present and the future of our country.
Whatever the reasons for the arsons, this is a criminal activity and it is legally punishable.

As such, for all the identified cases, the Ministry of Defence keeps constant contact with the State Police, other security structures in the country, local government structures, Fire Protection and Rescue Offices in the municipalities, forest directorates, The National Agency of Protected Areas are working to identify arsonists and to enforce legal responsibility. We are determined to not tolerate any abusive and irresponsible action that will cause fires and damage to our country's territory. We will react legally with the same force, to protect the land plots as we did for arsons in the forests.

The protection of this property is a legal and moral duty of each of us, as citizens of this country and of course, the responsibility of the respective central and local structures. We urge all citizens to report on time in the emergencies number 112, all perpetrators of these criminal acts with grave consequences for human life and property. We inform all Albanian citizens that every case of fire will be thoroughly investigated by making legally responsible all arsonists and landowners where the fires will be evidenced.
Thank you for your attention!

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