Employees of the "National Operational Center" department at the Directorate for the Prevention and Control of Forest and Field Fires-Ministry of Interior monitor in real time satellite data from the European EFFIS system for monitoring the forest and field fires that have occurred. In this way, additional data on the fires that have occurred are specified (geographical location, hourly temperature anomalies indicating the development of the fire, satellite data on the destroyed areas, etc.), announced the Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov, quoted by BGNES.
The system also allows for an assessment of the fire hazard index, a long-term monthly forecast for temperature and precipitation anomalies on the territory of the country, statistical data and news related to the operational situation in the countries of the European Union and in other countries. The information used is valuable in that it achieves optimal coordination of forces and resources of the GDPBZN and the executive authorities when handling large-scale and complex incidents.
In the event of an operational need, the GDPBZN, as a national contact point, activates the Copernicus system. Over the past two years, mapping, monitoring and data collection for large and complex fires in the districts of Blagoevgrad, Yambol, Plovdiv and Pernik have been requested several times. The information collected from satellite monitoring and mapping is public and gives interested parties access to the full volume of data, which can be used even after the accident has been eliminated to assess the damage and material losses, adds Mitov in response to a parliamentary question.
Every day, the Operational Center sends information about the expected meteorological and hydrological forecast and the fire danger index to the operational centers of the Sofia and Regional Directorates “Fire Safety and Population Protection”. In the event of expected potentially dangerous meteorological and hydrological phenomena, specific instructions are prepared and sent to the territorial units of the Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection, the regional directorates of the Ministry of Interior and the regional governors, in accordance with their obligations regulated in the Disaster Protection Act.