Warning of fires and loss of life as a result of them

In the 12 months of 2023, there were 33 fires in the Braslaŭ district, which is 3 fewer than in the same period of 2022. During these fires, 5 people lost their lives, which is significantly higher than the figure for the same period in 2022 (1 person).

The increase in the number of fires was recorded in the territories of the Akhremovets, Opsa, and Slobodkovsky rural councils (from 0 to 5, from 0 to 4, and from 4 to 7 respectively). In the territories of the Akhremovets, Druyeu, and Opsa rural councils, there were fatalities in fires.

In the current period of 2024, there is a significant increase in the number of fires and fatalities. As of 14.02.2024, there have already been 6 fires registered in the Braslaŭ district (compared to 1 fire in the same period of 2023), resulting in 1 (0) fatality.

The current situation indicates shortcomings in the preventive measures carried out by the relevant authorities aimed at fire prevention.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Braslaŭ district conducted an inspection of the causes and conditions contributing to the occurrence of fires in the district, as well as the activities of the interested authorities in their prevention, during which deficiencies affecting fire safety in the region were identified.
According to Article 18 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Fire Safety" (hereinafter referred to as the Law), local Councils of Deputies, executive and administrative bodies analyze the state of fire safety, make decisions on these issues, develop plans, and implement measures to ensure fire safety in the relevant territory.

According to Article 20 of the Law, heads and other officials of organizations in the field of fire safety ensure fire safety and fire prevention measures in the respective organizations; create an organizational structure if necessary, develop responsibilities and a control system that ensures fire safety at all technological levels and stages of production activities; ensure the timely implementation of fire prevention measures according to the prescriptions and requirements of state fire supervision authorities; take measures against violators of fire safety legislation; and fulfill other responsibilities in the field of fire safety in accordance with this Law and other legislative acts.

However, as the inspection revealed, some enterprises and organizations in the district do not comply with fire safety legislation, and the prescriptions of supervisory authorities are ignored.
It was established that the Braslaŭ Fire and Rescue Service systematically assessed the state of fire safety at facilities with round-the-clock presence of citizens and facilities with mass gatherings of people in 2023.
For example, in October 2023, the Braslaŭ Fire and Rescue Service conducted monitoring of compliance with fire safety legislation in the dormitories of the Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Braslaŭ-Communalnik", based on which recommendations were sent to the director of the mentioned enterprise to eliminate the identified violations. Similar information was also sent to the Braslaŭ District Executive Committee.

On 13.02.2024, during a joint monitoring of the dormitories of the Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Braslaŭ-Communalnik" with the Braslaŭ Fire and Rescue Service, a number of significant violations of fire safety norms and rules defined by general fire safety requirements were again identified. It was also established that the recommendations of the Braslaŭ Fire and Rescue Service were not implemented, and the requirements to eliminate previously identified violations of fire safety legislation were effectively ignored.
Violations of fire safety requirements were also identified by the Prosecutor's Office in the Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Braslaŭ District Household Services".
The Prosecutor's Office of the Braslaŭ district also analyzed the activities of inspection commissions at rural executive committees regarding fire prevention and protection of lives during this inspection.

According to part 1 of Article 15 of the Law, local executive and administrative bodies, in cooperation with emergency services, health management authorities, state health organizations, labor, employment, and social protection authorities, social service institutions, organizations operating housing stock and/or providing housing and communal services, and educational institutions, conduct preventive measures aimed at preventing fires and other emergencies and protecting people from them, address checks on the condition of living quarters of lonely and elderly citizens and disabled persons, large families, and families with children in socially dangerous situations, organize checks on the condition of living quarters of other categories of citizens during inspections of fire safety conditions of residential buildings, and take necessary measures to bring the housing stock to a fire-safe state, conduct briefings on fire safety measures in everyday life, and take measures to provide targeted social assistance to citizens to ensure safe living conditions.
In this regard, significant importance is assigned to the inspection commissions established at rural executive committees in the field of fire prevention.
The work of the inspection commissions is regulated by the Regulation on the Commission for the Prevention of Deaths from External Causes, including emergencies, approved by the decision of the Braslaŭ District Executive Committee No. 45 dated 15.01.2024 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation).

However, the activities of some inspection commissions to ensure the fire safety of the housing stock are organized inadequately, and preventive measures aimed at preventing fires are not carried out at the required level.
According to paragraph 10.2 of paragraph 10 of the Regulation, inspection commissions continuously work on studying the condition of residential buildings (apartments), including adjacent territories, where live: large families and families with children in socially dangerous situations – with the participation of a member (members) of the inspection commission from educational institutions, labor, employment, and social protection authorities, and the police; individuals abusing alcohol and leading an antisocial lifestyle, as well as individuals on preventive registration with internal affairs authorities, based on the grounds provided in paragraphs 2-6 of part 28 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Basics of Activities for the Prevention of Offenses" – with the participation of members of the inspection commission from the police and health organizations.

At the same time, in violation of this requirement, representatives of the Braslaŭ police did not participate in the inspection commissions when examining the category of citizens (those abusing alcohol, leading an antisocial lifestyle) at the Mezhan, Akhremovets, and Opsa rural executive committees.
In the current period of 2024, representatives of the Braslaŭ police did not participate in any inspections of living quarters of citizens abusing alcohol and leading an antisocial lifestyle conducted by the inspection commission at the Akhremovets rural executive committee.

When inspecting the households of large families and families with children in socially dangerous situations, representatives of the education department of the Braslaŭ District Executive Committee and educational institutions were not included in the inspection commission at the Mezhan rural executive committee.

The inspection commissions also do not comply with paragraph 10.8 of paragraph 10 of the Regulation, which concerns monitoring the elimination of identified violations by residents.
According to paragraph 5.4 of paragraph 5 of the Regulation, one of the main tasks of the inspection commissions is to assist citizens in need of additional social protection in repairing stoves and electrical wiring, installing autonomous fire alarms, eliminating safety violations, and taking measures to provide targeted social assistance to citizens to ensure safe living conditions.

As a result of the analysis conducted, it was established that the inspection commissions do not always inform other preventive entities about the identified violations of fire safety legislation. All necessary measures aimed at bringing citizens' living quarters to a safe state are not taken.
The reasons and conditions contributing to the aforementioned violations are the formal fulfillment of the responsibilities of preventive entities, inadequate interaction between them, and the lack of a control system over the activities of inspection commissions at rural executive committees by the district working commission.

As a result of the inspection, a representation was submitted to the Braslaŭ District Executive Committee on 14.02.2024.

Deputy Prosecutor of the District S.P. Harbus