Penalties for violation of fire safety rules are being toughened in Kyrgyzstan. Amendments to the Code of Offenses initiated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations have been submitted for public discussion.
The number of fires and the amount of material damage have been increasing since 2013, the ministry said.
In 2022, the amount of damage reached more than 3.2 billion soms.
The number of visits of fire and rescue teams to extinguish fires in forests, mountains, related to burning of garbage and dry grass in open areas has increased. This leads to increased economic losses and decreased protection of settlements.
A sharp change in the dynamics of fires and losses from them are associated with the decisions taken by the legislative authorities.
«Thus, in accordance with the resolution of the Parliament of April 19, 2012, the functions of state fire supervision were transferred to the State Inspectorate for Environmental and Technical Safety. However, the staff of the service did not allow to respond promptly and fulfill the functions and tasks entrusted to it to prevent fires. At the same time the number of administrative misdemeanors providing responsibility for non-compliance with fire safety requirements has been reduced,» the background statement reads.
«Analysis of the legislation has shown that measures to influence citizens in the form of penalties in the field of fire safety are insufficient. The imposition of fines on violators does not give the necessary effect and the required educational impact, which encourages a feeling of impunity and leads to systematic violations on the part of citizens and persons obliged to ensure safety at the entrusted object,» the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.
The bill supplements Article 143 (violation or failure to comply with fire safety rules) of the Code of Offenses.
For example, violation of fire safety rules, which resulted in a fire and threatened the life and health of citizens, shall entail a fine of 130 calculated rates (13,000 soms) for individuals, 230 calculated rates (23,000 soms) for officials, and 750 calculated rates (75,000 soms) for legal entities.
The document provides for liability for violation of rules of technical operation of electrical equipment and carelessness in smoking. As these are the main causes of fires.
Smoking of tobacco products, use of electronic smoking systems at fire and explosion hazardous objects shall entail a fine of 100 calculated rates (10,000 soms) for individuals.
The bill expands the list of articles under which the authorized state body in the field of fire safety considers cases of offenses and imposes penalties. Now it can be done only under Article 143.
