The fire in Rila, which has been burning for the fifth day, is still not localized. The fire was caused by lightning. A helicopter was involved in extinguishing the flames on Monday. They covered an area of over 40 acres.
„The fight against the flames continues for another day. The fire broke out in a difficult-to-reach area. To reach the fire area – the journey is one hour by car and another hour and a half on foot. The fire had moved out of the forest area and into the alpine area on Monday. So we used a military helicopter that made seven overflights. Today the extinguishing continues – both with ground teams and air equipment”. This was stated on the air of “Hello, Bulgaria” commissioner Svetoslav Georgiev, who is the chief of the fire station in Kyustendil.
„The bad thing is that the fire is still not localized. Our goal is to stop it by digging a strip, helping ourselves with the helicopter at the top of it. We are making every effort to prevent it from growing. Colleagues from the “Pirin” National Park also came to help us”, explained the director of the “Rila” National Park. Krasimir Andonov.
According to him, there is no possibility to bring heavy equipment to the area of the fire to help put it out. "However, the helicopter greatly supports our work," Andonov emphasized. And he added that the fire was ignited by lightning.
"I want to thank the Armed Forces of Bulgaria in the person of Colonel Kiril Spanevikov from the Third Brigade Command and the Air Force Base in Krumovo, who participated in extinguishing the fire with the helicopter. There is no immediate danger to the lives of the people of Samoranovo and Bistrica," said the mayor of Dupnitsa, Parvan Dangov.