Who Fights Forest Fires?
As a result, leskhozes staff have had to try to continue fighting forest fires even though they do not have sufficient funds. They are joined by large local logging operators, who have often had to stop their logging activities and switch to extinguishing fires. The press service of Segezh pulp-and-paper plant reported that during the summer of 2005, a few enterprises of the holding had to cease logging operations completely. For example, Segezhles JSC stopped its logging activities, and Pandany JSC only logged 30% the planned amount. As a result logging enterprises incurred direct losses because of failed timber supply and the costs of fire fighting. For example, the Segezh pulp-and-paper plant alone spent 4.5 million roubles (Euro 150,000) on maintaining a fire fighting unit. The duty of the fire fighting squads formed of logging company staff is only supposed to be ‘to provide assistance in fighting forest fires’, not to replace professional firemen. These forest tenants have critic
