The Minister of the Environment, Simonas Gentvilas, believes that when it comes to the end of March, Vilnius trains of the station the fire that broke out in the territory, the version of arson cannot be ruled out. However, according to him, it is necessary to wait for the opinion of the researchers.
"Let's not rule out the arson version. Firefighters and rescuers are still investigating the causes, but let's agree that handling metal and buying cars is not the most transparent business. I don't want to say stereotypically, but anything is possible," S. Gentvilas said in the "ELTA corner" program.
As a possible alternative cause of the fire, the minister cites the fact that society throws away more and more mis-sorted electronics, which are handed over to recycling plants and landfills. At the time, he said, smaller waste companies had lower standards, so discarded electronics could accumulate and become a fire hazard.
"There are a lot of electronics in our household now. These are batteries and electronic cigarettes, various devices. And all of them are thrown into a common pile," he explained.
S. Gentvilas assured that attempts are being made to eliminate such danger by changing the procedure for working with waste. According to him, from 2025 new fire prevention standards are coming into effect, which will require waste piles to be broken down in landfills.
"This should stop such fires in the future," he said.
According to S. Gentvil, the new requirements will encourage companies to move away from residential areas, thus reducing the consequences of incidents.
"It will be more difficult for them (waste handlers - Elta) to establish themselves in cities, which means that such spaces are no longer suitable for them," said the politician.
"Vilnius has also decided to move such industry from the center. And this event is another example that such an industry has no place in the center of the capital," he said.
In the Minister's opinion, both the requirements that will come into effect and the encouragement of scrap yards to move out of urban areas, so that fires of this scale in waste management companies should not be repeated.
"We should definitely avoid such massive fires," concluded S. Gentvilas.
ELTA reminds that on March 27 It started in the landfill on Paneriai street fire. The fire was extinguished on March 28. About 60 firefighters from the capital worked at the time of the incident.
According to the Vilnius Fire Rescue Board, there were no casualties or injuries during the fire. Firefighters managed to protect three buildings from the fire, they are of storage and industrial use, the company's elevator and metal shredder were saved.
At its peak, the focus of the fire covered about 1300 square meters. meters.
After the fire in Paneriai, the representatives of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department (PAGD) said that the metal waste, which included toxic substances, was irregularly piled in a 9-meter pile. For these reasons, the fire was intense, the open flame was burning, and after it was extinguished, there was concern that the fires would re-emerge.
During the fire, a sharp increase in solid particle pollution in the air was recorded in a part of Vilnius. In response to this Vilnius city municipality recommended some educational institutions to operate remotely and warned residents that dangerous pollution could settle on the surfaces of houses or cars.
Aleksandras Zubriakovs, Director of Corporate Affairs of Lietuvos Geležinkelių (LTG) Group, stated that the fire started on the territory of Lietuvos Geležinkelių. However, the company UAB "Ruvis" is currently located in the area where the fire broke out.
If it turns out that the fire on the territory of LTG in Vilnius was caused by the lessee's fault, the LTG group will consider the possibility of terminating the contract with the Ruvis company.
At that time, Vilnius county police has initiated an investigation into the violation of environmental protection or natural resource use rules. Violators of the rules established by legal acts, if serious consequences for the environment have arisen as a result, are punished by a fine or restriction of liberty, or arrest, or deprivation of liberty for up to six years.
As reported by the "15min.lt" portal at the beginning of April, the fire damage to the environment may reach 5,8 million. euros.
Žygymantas Šilobritas (ELTA)
