Ukraine’s firefighters, OSCE SMM observers and officers of the Joint Control and Coordination Centre took out the fire that spread in the field not far from Novooleksandrivka village, Luhansk region. The ignition of dry grass was most probably caused by the chaotic fire of Russia-backed militants holding positions in this area, which is actually a section of the division line between them and the Ukrainian military.
The fire started at about 10 a.m. local time; it spread from the militant-held positions near Popasna town and nearly reached the living quarters and administrative buildings; due to the change of wind, the fire took over a large area and put the whole village in danger.
The distress call reached the Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Centre, the local offices of the National Police and the State Emergencies Service, as well as OSCE SMM observers. The group offered a ceasefire in the area for a period, which would be enough to extinguish the fire; it took them six hours. However, militants ignored it and opened chaotic fire from sniper rifles and heavy machineguns.
No casualties or any damage to residential buildings were reported.
