The problem with fires in our country is becoming more serious. They are becoming more numerous, more intense and destroying more and more areas, especially forests, reports WWF Bulgaria.
Over 7 thousand forest fires have occurred and been extinguished in our country over the past 15 years.
According to a decision of the National Assembly of July 19, 2024, the Council of Ministers is obliged to purchase "specialized aircraft for extinguishing fires", but this has not yet been done. The environmental organization is also raising the issue with a special Petition to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
"So far, 11 thousand people have joined the firefighting activities, but when we are talking about hard-to-reach mountainous places, we must have specialized equipment – Elena Gancheva from WWF Bulgaria commented to BNR-Radio Sofia. – For such a purpose, Greece has 90 airplanes and helicopters, Turkey has 105 helicopters and 26 airplanes and they are on constant alert. We still do not have a specialized airplane or helicopter, the ones in operation are adapted."
Bulgaria has several times missed the opportunity to finance the purchase of aircraft for firefighting under various programs, such as the Operational Program Environment, the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, etc.
"Without forests, we have no water, they protect against landslides, etc. It is difficult to quantify the losses. If the forest does not recover on its own, new afforestation will be needed. Not to mention the animals.
Sneakers and a T-shirt cannot extinguish such an element. More volunteers need to be trained and equipped.
Both institutions and NGOs are calling for increased attention, not to light fires this season, and despite everything, it happens. Let's listen to these appeals and change our habits," insisted Elena Gancheva.