About 40% of the Chisinau churches inspected by the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service before Easter do not obey the anti-fire rules. The inspectors drew up prescriptions for removing the irregularities and the churches will be examined again the coming days. Those that will not comply with the prescriptions will pay fines of 2,000 to 4,000 lei.

The Service’s press officer Diana Turcan said the inspectors check how the fire alarm systems work, if there are such in churches, if the electrical equipment was installed correctly and if the exhaust pipes are not blocked. One of the most often violations is the lack of fire extinguishers and fire alarms.

Parishioners are warned to be careful of the candles burning in churches on the Resurrection Night and to keep the distance between each other. Drivers are asked not to park their cars in the immediate vicinity of churches so as to allow the firefighting vehicles to pass in case of fire.

In the municipality of Chisinau there are 274 churches. On Easter, the rescuers will work under an alert regime.