Emergency teams in the Abay region of East Kazakhstan responded to a fast-moving grass fire that originally began in the Altai Territory of Russia and crossed into the republic. Official updates from the regional administration indicate that local firefighting resources were mobilized to manage the blaze and protect nearby communities and natural areas.
The dry grass fire started in the Russian portion of the Altai Territory, near the village of Novenkoe, on May 22 at 15:25 local time (12:25 Moscow time). Weather conditions and shifting winds allowed the fire to advance across the border into Kazakhstan, threatening the Semey Forest State Nature Reserve. The affected zone lay about 7 kilometers from the Aul station in the Borodulikha district of the Abay region, highlighting the remote nature of the incident and the need for coordinated cross-border response.
Preliminary estimates placed the fire’s area at roughly 70 hectares, with the situation evolving as ground crews and aviation assets worked to slow its spread. Authorities explained that all available forces and facilities were directed toward extinguishing the blaze, under the direction of regional leaders and emergency services authorities. Nurlan Urankhaev, the head of the region, was represented on scene by the deputy head of the emergency services and regional administration, Dmitry Garikov, to oversee coordination and decision-making on the ground.
Officials stressed that evacuations were prepared as a precautionary measure, while emphasizing that the situation remained under control. The authorities stated that necessary extinguishing operations were being carried out in collaboration with emergency response teams, withprotective measures and monitoring in place to safeguard residents and critical infrastructure.
To date, the firefighting operation has involved 148 personnel and 48 units of equipment, reflecting a substantial mobilization aimed at rapid containment and perimeter control. The combined efforts focused on creating firebreaks, suppressing active flames, and preventing the spread toward vulnerable zones within the nature reserve and nearby settlements. In such border-region incidents, sustained cooperation among neighboring jurisdictions is essential to managing evolving fire behavior and ensuring public safety across administrative boundaries.
Meanwhile, authorities noted the importance of ongoing surveillance and readiness to adjust response tactics as conditions change. Local teams continue to monitor air quality, flame activity, and potential hotspots, employing a mix of ground crews and aerial assets to maximize efficiency and minimize risk to responders. Community members are advised to stay informed through official channels and adhere to any safety instructions issued by regional authorities.
As this firefighting effort progresses, observers are reminded that wildfires in semi-arid regions can shift rapidly with changes in wind, temperature, and moisture. Preparedness and rapid cross-border coordination are key factors in reducing the potential for further spread and protecting ecologically significant areas such as nature reserves, as well as nearby rural communities that depend on surrounding landscapes for livelihoods.
In related news, a separate conflagration previously reported in the Bastak Nature Reserve in the region was declared extinguished. Authorities confirmed that the large fire there had been fully eliminated, marking a return to safer conditions in another protected area during the same period of heightened wildfire activity.