Thousand foci: forest fires in Yamal broke the record for 20-30 years

In 2026, 1,001 natural fires were registered in Yamal: the fire passed about 868 thousand hectares, of which 642 thousand were forest lands. Such indicators in the district have not been recorded for at least 20-30 years, this was reported at a press conference dedicated to the results of the fire season.

“2026 is anomalous. For the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, we have broken all records for at least the last 20-30 years, said Evgeny Solovyov, Deputy Head of the Forestry Department of the Department of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The season was complicated by abnormally warm and dry weather: from June to September, the temperature was on average five degrees above normal, and precipitation fell by 40-60% less than usual. The fires were active from the beginning of summer to the end of September, the most difficult months are August and September. About 99% of fires were caused by dry thunderstorms, about 1% - due to human factor. At the same time, 37% of fires were extinguished in the first day.

Threats to settlements and facilities of the fuel and energy complex were prevented - local residents, volunteer fire brigades, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and enterprises joined in protecting the territories.

The state of emergency was introduced in five municipalities of the district, twice the regime operated on the territory of the whole of Yamal - this allowed to attract additional forces from other regions and the federal center.

Experts stressed that the area covered by the fire is not equal to the area of the dead forest. What trees have been damaged and whether areas need restoration work, will show forest pathological examinations. Artificial or natural reforestation is possible at the sites of planting death: deciduous trees need about 60 years to reach ripeness, conifers - about 100.

An instructor of the amphibious fire brigade of the Forest Fire Center of the Krasnoyarsk Territory saved a squirrel during the fight against forest fires in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The animal was among the fallen trees.