Russian attacks intensified the fire in the irrigated fields, and the smoke from the fire blanketed Odesa

Russian attacks intensified the fire in the irrigated fields, and the smoke from it blanketed Odesa and the Odesa region. Due to the airstrikes, the fire spread to a much larger area, making it more difficult to extinguish.

Marina Avarina, a spokesperson for the State Emergency Service, reported this to Intentu.

Residents of Odesa and the surrounding region have been complaining about a pungent smell of smoke for the third day in a row. It is most noticeable in the central part of the city, and various theories regarding the source of the unpleasant odor have appeared on social media.

According to the State Emergency Service spokesperson, it is currently impossible to determine the exact cause of the fire; however, such fires most often occur due to human negligence, such as a discarded cigarette butt. At the same time, it was the Russian attack that significantly complicated efforts to extinguish the fire.

“It’s impossible to determine the cause of the fire right now, but usually it’s negligence—someone threw away a cigarette butt and it caught fire. However, this time, while firefighters were already battling the blaze, there were airstrikes in the area, and as a result, the fire spread over such a large area,” Averina explained.

According to the Regional State Administration, the acrid smell of smoke is caused by smoldering vegetation in the irrigation fields. Authorities report that the area affected by the smoldering is approximately 8 hectares.

The Regional State Administration emphasizes that air quality monitoring results do not currently indicate a critical deterioration in air quality. Environmentalists continue to monitor the situation. It is expected that once the wind direction changes, the smell of smoke will gradually dissipate.

Until then, people with respiratory conditions, allergies, the elderly, pregnant women, and families with young children are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exposure whenever possible, keep windows closed, stay well-hydrated, and consult their family doctor if they feel unwell.

Earlier, Intent reported that a woman who set trash on fire and caused a large-scale blaze in the irrigation fields of Odesa received a suspended sentence. The court also ordered her to pay the statenearly 97.5 million hryvniasin compensation for environmental damage.

Ірина Глухова