The heat started fires all over Bulgaria. Fighting the fire is on several fronts.
Today a large fire broke out in a coniferous forest near the village of Studena, municipality of Svilengrad, which may lead to the declaration of a state of emergency for the entire area.
This was announced by the deputy regional governor of Haskovo, Mitko Petrov, to the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA). The decision will be made after consultation with the fire service in the early afternoon today.
Critical situation in Haskovo region
The fire in the village of Studena grew rapidly due to the strong wind and threatened the villages of Devrishka Mogila in the north and Ravna Gora in the south. The mayor of Svilengrad, Anastas Karchev, informed BTA that the fire is peak and mainly covers a coniferous forest, while permanent plantations are also affected.
The situation in the Haskovo region is critical, as the fire has affected more than 15,000 acres with different vegetation and 13 houses. A partial state of emergency has been declared in the municipalities of Ivaylovgrad and Topolovgrad, and dozens of people have been evacuated.
New outbreaks and consequences
Another fire broke out in the land of Dabovets village, Lyubimets municipality, Mitko Petrov reported. The fires near the Ivaylovgrad village of Gornoseltsi and the Topolovgrad village of Srem are still active. In Gornoseltsi yesterday, 10 houses burned down, of which two or three were inhabited, and in Srem the fire destroyed three houses, farm buildings and six cars. Yesterday, 25 people were evacuated from the settlement, and as of this morning, two helicopters are involved in the extinguishing.
Dry grass and bushes caught fire under the TV tower in Ruse
A large fire is burning in dry grass and bushes in an area under the old TV tower near Ruse. This was confirmed for BTA by the regional spokesperson. The signal was submitted at 12:40 p.m. Four teams of the fire department were dispatched to the scene.
Fighting the fire on several fronts
In Srem, the fire covered about 10,000 acres of forest and agricultural land. Heavy equipment and firefighters are trying to contain the flames. In Gornoseltsi, the fire is spreading over an area of nearly 4,000 acres in a difficult-to-access area, with two helicopters helping to put it out. The third active outbreak is on an area of 2,000 decares between the Topolovgrad villages of Radovets and Planinovo.
The director of RD "Fire safety and protection of the population" Senior Commissioner Mitko Chakalov assured that there is no danger to the populated areas, as the fire is localized. Over 200 reports of fires were received yesterday in the country, and more than 300 firefighters are fighting the fiery element.
Volunteers pitch in to help
The municipality of Hisarya is calling for volunteers to help the firefighters in extinguishing the fire in the area of the "Miromir" district. The regional governor of Plovdiv, Prof. Hristina Yancheva, reported that the fire was dangerously close to a warehouse for the Military Medical Academy, full of medical devices. 60 volunteers responded to the call.
Military and heavy equipment in action
Military and heavy equipment were involved in extinguishing the fires. In the area of the Yambol villages of Melnitsa and Granitovo, nearly 6,000 acres are burning. The regional governor, Nikolay Kostadinov, announced that heavy machinery was being used to clear the fire to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to the village of Lesovo.
The Ministry of Defense announced that servicemen from the Ground Forces and the Air Force are involved in extinguishing fires in the country, including in the village of Melnitsa, Plovdiv and the area of the village of Srem, Topolovgrad. Helicopters have also been diverted to extinguish the fire in the land of the village of Gornoseltsi.
According to Chief Commissioner Alexander Jartov, director of the DG "Fire Safety and Protection of the Population", the operational situation remains busy. "It is very warm and the wind is blowing," said Zhartov, adding that in the next hours the weather forecast is not favorable for controlling the fires. The fight against the fiery element continues and the next hours and days will be decisive for the situation in the Haskovo region and the other affected areas.