There are currently 100 active fires in the country, according to the latest data from the fire department for "Around the World and at Home". The situation remains most serious in Haskovo, where there are 18 outbreaks, in Blagoevgrad and Stara Zagora - 7 each. There are now 6 active fires in the Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo districts. And what's more - there are 60,000 more calls to the emergency hotline 112 since the beginning of July compared to the previous month of June due to the complicated fire situation in the country, according to the data of the emergency hotline 112. Meanwhile, the fourth helicopter that Bulgaria requested under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism arrived today. The acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs responded to President Rumen Radev's criticism that procedures for purchasing firefighting equipment are currently underway.
Sr. Comm. Miroslav Rashkov, Acting Sr. Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
"The operational situation is very complicated at the moment - we have between 200 and 300 fires per day, which, given the weather and meteorological conditions, right, the appearance of strong winds in places, further complicates things. The attitude of people is very important here - we find that in 90% of cases it is a matter of human error, negligence, and in some cases even intent. I will not be mistaken if I say that there is enough equipment in the GDPBZN, there are procedures in place for purchasing new things. From there on, I cannot comment. Any service that needs the necessary equipment - this thing will be supported by the professional and political leadership and will be insisted on having in stock. That is precisely why the so-called European mechanism for cooperation in disasters and accidents was established. Because no country has enough aircraft when there is such a situation".