In 1986, a flawed reactor design in combination with inadequately trained personnel resulted in a steam explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in Ukraine. The explosion released radioactive materials into many parts of Europe. Two plant workers were killed instantly and in the weeks following, 28 people died due to acute radiation syndrome. The accident led to the evacuation of about 350,000 people. There is now an 18-mile safety zone surrounding the power station that is considered uninhabitable. On Friday, April 3, 2020, the area faced new threats as forest fires came dangerously close to the irradiated forest. (1, 2, 3)

Chernobyl Forest Fire Rages Over Easter Weekend

By Easter Sunday, the fires neared the forests surrounding the site of the Chernobyl disaster. Radiation readings spiked to 17 times the normal background reading just outside the village of Rahivka, Ukraine according to ecological inspection chief Yegor Firsov. The fires blazed over Easter weekend approximately 12 miles from the accident site. “There is bad news,” wrote Firsov on a Facebook post from the closed Chernobyl region. “At the center of the fire, radiation levels are high … readings are 2.3 when the normal level is 0.14.” (3)

Chernobyl Forest Area Sees Spike in Radiation Levels

The post also showed a video of the Geiger counter readings in the area. Firsov says the jump in radiation levels is alarming but that they were contained to the center of the fire. A second Facebook post stated nuclear specialists did not see radiation levels increase in Kyiv which sits roughly 60 miles from the exclusion zone. Kyiv is Ukraine’s capital. (3)

However, according to Yaroslav Yemelyanenko, head of the Chernobyl tour guide association, one fire blazed just 1.2 miles or so from radioactive waste deposits. (2)

250 Acres of Chernobyl Forest

Ukrainian authorities said the fire covered over 250 acres during the blaze. The fire caused concern because it spread through the irradiated trees and plant life near Chernobyl. Police identified a 27-year old resident who confessed to starting several area blazes “for fun”. Strong winds caused the blaze to spread quickly and required over 400 firefighters as well as helicopters and planes which dropped tonnes of water over the area. (2, 3)

Chernobyl Forest Fire Triggers Call For Higher Fines

According to the Ukrainian Emergency Services Ministry, the fire was put out and radiation levels have dropped back to within normal limits. Firsov feels this is cause to increase the $6.50 fine for human-sparked fires. “This can’t continue,” he wrote on Facebook. “The fine must go up 50-100 times.” (3)

Andrii Vatolin, the head of Ukraine’s emergency services, had some words of his own regarding the people who started the fires, stating they are “criminals” on the ministry Facebook page. (3)

Chernobyl Forest Fire Puts Firefighters At Risk

Considering it took firefighters more than a week to put out the fire, it definitely put strains on the team. As well, it posed a dangerous job due to the radioactive site the blaze reached. “My indignation is in the fact that the firefighters who are forced to work in the exclusion zone are not liquidating the consequences of an accident, but the consequences of human negligence and criminal acts,” wrote Vatolin. (3, 4)