Wildfire in Poliske Nature Reserve Finally Contained
Firefighters have successfully extinguished a massive wildfire that swept through the Poliske Nature Reserve in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region. The blaze, which consumed an estimated 500 hectares of protected land, took a full 12 days to bring under control. Crews from the neighboring Rivne region were called in to assist in the effort. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES):
“For 12 days, rescuers worked side by side with forestry workers, fighting the fire in close coordination.”
The operation was further complicated by the presence of landmines in certain sections of the reserve, which forced firefighters to proceed with extreme caution. Pyrotechnic units from the Zhytomyr SES were deployed to clear these hazardous areas. Throughout the response, drones (UAVs) were used to monitor the fire’s progress, while teams conducted ground patrols and targeted smoldering hotspots to prevent reignition.
Resources Returning to Base
All personnel and equipment involved in the firefighting operation are now returning to their regular stations. It is worth noting that as of May 12, a separate large-scale forest fire in the Koriukivka forestry district had already been contained, with no further spread reported.
Bringing this wildfire under control marks a critical achievement for the protection of the region’s fragile ecosystem. Wildfires in nature reserves pose severe risks to local flora and fauna, as well as to nearby communities. The deployment of additional resources—including bomb disposal experts and aerial drones—underscores the seriousness of the incident and the need for a comprehensive firefighting strategy. Moving forward, preventive measures will be essential to avoid similar disasters in the future.
The recent containment of the wildfire in Poliske Nature Reserve highlights the ongoing challenges faced by emergency services in Ukraine. This incident follows another significant fire in the region, emphasizing the need for effective strategies in managing such disasters. For more details on the containment efforts of a massive wildfire in a nearby area, you can read about the response to the massive wildfire in Ukraine's Polissia Nature Reserve.