Novosibirsk Ministry Sues to Recover Forest Fire Costs

The Ministry of Natural Resources of Novosibirsk Region has filed a lawsuit to recover the costs of extinguishing a forest fire. The case is being heard in the Barabinsky District Court. The information was published by the press service of the region«s courts of general jurisdiction.

The Ministry of Natural Resources filed a lawsuit against the administration of the Orlovsky Village Council in Ubinsky District and a group of co-owners of a land plot. According to the case, on April 26, 2025, a fire occurred on the land of the Ubinsky Forestry, i.e., forest fund land. The ministry believes that the source of the fire was on an adjacent plot of agricultural land. After that, the fire spread to the forest.

The plaintiff argues that the landowners failed to observe fire safety measures. The territory was not cleared of dry grass and combustible materials. Moreover, a mineralized fire barrier was not created on the border with the forest. The state spent 271,610 rubles and 32 kopecks (approximately $3,600 at current rates) to extinguish the fire. This amount is being demanded from the defendants.

A resident of the Novosibirsk settlement Geologov, Ksenia, has been seeking for six months to have the police determine who is guilty of arson at her home. What is known about the emergency and the neighbors« conflict was investigated by an NGS observer.