Cross-Border Steppe Fire Sparks Back-and-Forth Between Russia and Kazakhstan

A major steppe fire has been burning for several days in Russia’s Orenburg region. According to Russian media and representatives of the Orenburg Nature Reserve, the fire originated in Kazakhstan and then crossed the border, Orda.kz reports, citing the local outlet 56orb.ru.

The first ignition was recorded on June 6. Russian sources claim the fire began when lightning struck dry grass on the Kazakh steppe. By June 7, flames had already consumed 260 hectares within the nature reserve. The fire reignited on June 11, threatening the nearby villages of Polevoy and Pervomaysky. As of June 12, more than 10,000 hectares of land had burned in the Orenburg region.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations denies that the fires in Russia are linked to those on Kazakh territory.

Officials claim that on June 11, a fire entered Kazakhstan from Russia.

On June 11, in the Ayteke bi district of the Aqtobe region, which borders the Russian Federation, a fire broke out in dry grass, having spread from the Svetlinsky District of the Orenburg region. Emergency and fire services fully extinguished the fire that same day, covering an area of 50 hectares, the Ministry said. 

Original Author: Artem Volkov