Deputies Want Firefighters Given Power to Break Through Barriers and Blocking Cars

After a fire in Astana in which three children died, deputy Olzhas Kuspekov proposed allowing fire crews to break through barriers and damage cars that block access, Orda.kz reports.

According to the deputies, firefighters were unable to reach the scene immediately on the night of the fire because of a badly parked car. Members of the Respublica faction appealed to the government with a proposal to urgently strengthen fire safety measures and ensure unimpeded access for emergency services.

Closed driveways, chaotic parking, faulty hydrants, the lack of firefighting equipment and formal oversight by owners and management organizations pose a direct threat to people’s lives. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, in 2025 emergency services responded to more than 93,000 fires and rescue operations. About 62% of all fires occur in the residential sector. Kuspekov said. 

In response, the deputies proposed:

• introducing special lanes for emergency services, similar to fire lanes, with parking prohibited there;
• allowing rescuers to remove obstacles, including opening barriers and damaging cars, if they interfere with efforts to save lives;
• tightening fire safety requirements for buildings, introducing digital monitoring and connecting smoke detectors to warning systems.

The deputies also proposed considering compulsory property insurance against emergencies.

Original author: Ilya Astakhov

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