The approximate area which has thus far been effected by the blaze.
Dateline - March 22, 2015 IGT - Bolshevik, Podagorsk
Reports and images are coming out of the Podagorsk Peninsula with regards to a large forest fire. The fire has burned an estimated 1,900 acres so far, or about 7.5 square kilometers. While in terms of size compared to American forest fires, it is not large, the fire is large in contrast to the rest of the country. The southern edge of the fire is reported to have been contained, leaving the North, East and West sides still burning. The total containment is approximately 20%.
The origin of the fire is currently unknown. Captain Ballard of the 508th Engineer Detachment (firefighting), 20th Engineer Brigade stated the following. “The fire could have started from anything really. It could have been from an arsonist, simply starting a fire. It could have been from recent fighting, as a lot of ordinance has been dropped on the country. Or simply part of the RPLA’s retreat with their scorched earth policy.”
The 20th Engineer Brigade, part of the XVIII Airborne Corps, out of Fort Bragg North Carolina has recently deployed to the peninsula to help rebuild civilian infrastructure as the American forces push remaining enemy combatants out of the country to the North.
Captain Ballard also stated that “the civilian population and military here got really lucky that we happened to get here at the right time. We are here as part of the 20th Engineer Brigade, and then a few days later this fire flared up. In the long run, it won’t affect anything, 95% of civilian infrastructure is South of the fire. The only thing that it might hamper is air traffic, due to its smoke. It won’t even affect ongoing military operations as lines can easily just go around it.”
NATO forces, spearheaded by American combat forces have been pushing the radical RPLA out of the country over the past few weeks. At this time, it is unknown where abouts the conflict stands as this is held tightly by military officials. Civilians though have reported that they have not seen combat for a while now. They also report that they have been hearing gunfire and explosions in the mountains North of the peninsula, confirming that the RPLA are on the withdrawal.
It is no secret that the RPLA has been fleeing the country for a while now. It is likely that many of the RPLA are returning to their country of origin, Chernarus. It is unknown how many enemy combatants have already fled the country, but it is estimated that not very many have been able to flee as a many of their vehicles have been destroyed in previous engagements with US forces. However, as military operations draw down, and the rebuilding effort starts, many still wonder where the captured American service personnel are located. It has been over a month now since the soldiers were captured and hopes of rescuing them in the meantime appear to have diminished.
Reported by James Gallagher - International Times
* This news report is a fictional work to support the 506th ARMA game play
** Article and images supplied by Sergeant First Class Nagel
