Neli Doncheva from WWF told FACTI: So far, 250,000 acres have been affected by fires in our country

Why do we start fighting fires every year, but we are still not ready... And every year we are faced with a critical situation in which we can lose hundreds of thousands of areas of territory, unmeasured damage to biodiversity, which can exceed tens and hundreds of millions, plus a risk to human life, and lessons... Neli Doncheva, who leads the “Forests“ program, speaks to FACTI in the environmental organization WWF Bulgaria.

- Ms. Doncheva, Bulgaria is covered by hundreds of fires that destroy people's homes, crops and entire ecosystems, including in protected forest areas. And every year it's the same - ground equipment, as much as possible, and a prayer for rain. Why don't we learn a lesson…
- With each passing year, the territories affected by fires in our country, including forest fires, are increasing. In 2024, Bulgaria ranked among the European countries with the most and most devastating forest fires - over 170,000 acres of forests were burned. And this year, even before the summer is over, the affected area has already reached about 250,000 acres.
The damage is enormous - destroyed homes, dead domestic and wild animals, lost harvests and timber, destroyed biodiversity. But the damage is far from over. Burnt forests cannot perform the inherent ecological functions of forest ecosystems - water protection, soil protection, erosion control, maintaining biodiversity, and others. Unfortunately, the topic of fires is only on the agenda in the months of the most serious disasters. Then it is forgotten. But not by the people who suffered, nor by those who risk their lives to extinguish fires on the ground. It is forgotten by those on whom strategic decision-making and taking specific actions to deal with the problem depend. In the case of intense and large-scale forest fires, ground equipment and human resources are not enough. Specialized aircraft are needed - helicopters and airplanes designed specifically for extinguishing forest fires, as well as excellent organization. Reaction time is critical - the earlier the extinguishing begins, the greater the chance that the fire will be controlled and the damage will be less.
Many forest fires burn in difficult-to-reach or completely impassable terrain, where ground equipment is ineffective. In such cases, aerial equipment is the only solution. Of course, we must not forget that extreme conditions, such as strong winds and high temperatures, often make extinguishing fires extremely difficult.

Currently, Bulgaria has only three military helicopters adapted for extinguishing fires, each of which can carry about 1.5 tons of water.

For comparison - specialized firefighting aircraft and helicopters have a capacity of between 8 and 10 tons, which makes them many times more effective. Bulgaria can no longer postpone. The purchase of specialized aircraft for extinguishing forest fires is urgent. In addition, it is necessary to create a clear strategy for the management, maintenance and effective use of this equipment.

- From WWF Bulgaria, you have sent a petition to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to purchase specialized aerial firefighting equipment. Will it happen…
- From WWF Bulgaria, we have launched a petition to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, urging the Council of Ministers to immediately begin implementing the decision of the National Assembly of 2024, which provides for the purchase of specialized aerial firefighting equipment. The petition was published in the middle of last week and has been supported by over 11,400 people so far. Anyone who wishes can join via the following link.
In addition, last week – on July 30 and 31 – two civil protests were also held, one of the main demands of which was the urgent provision of specialized aerial equipment to combat forest fires. This clearly shows that society expects real and timely action on the subject.

- In forest fires, the speed of reaction is important. How are we coping in Bulgaria…
- The speed of response to forest fires is truly key - the sooner the extinguishing begins, the greater the chance that the fire will be brought under control before it causes serious damage. However, Bulgaria still faces serious challenges in this regard. Often, outbreaks occur in hard-to-reach terrain, where ground equipment and firefighters cannot reach in time. As I have already said, our country has only three military helicopters adapted for extinguishing fires. This slows down the response and makes it difficult to control fires in the critical first hours. Urgent investments in modern aircraft and better coordination between institutions are needed to increase the effectiveness of the response and prevent catastrophic damage.

- How are Greece and Turkey doing when it comes to fires?
- In short - both Greece and Turkey are betting on the introduction of modern technologies and strengthening international cooperation in the fight against forest fires. Greece continues to face serious challenges related to forest fires. Following the tragedy in Attica in 2018, when the fire took the lives of 100 people, the country is looking for sustainable solutions to the growing risk. In 2023, the largest fire in the EU since 2000 broke out in the Evros region - at least 28 people died and over 94,000 hectares were burned.
In response, WWF Greece prepared a report with proposals to improve the firefighting mechanism. These include: scientific support on the ground during fires, increased funding for research, the creation of independent investigative committees, specialized training for firefighters and the implementation of preventive measures.
In 2024, Greece began using drones and helicopters for surveillance, and purchased seven aircraft for 361 million euros. Greece currently has around 90 specialised aircraft for fighting forest fires. The EU is allocating €421m to Greece until 2027, and the recovery plan includes over €800m for firefighting measures. The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, established in 2021, is introducing stricter penalties – up to €200,000 fines and up to 20 years in prison for starting fires.

Today, there are over 21,000 people in the country – professionals and volunteers – involved in firefighting. At the same time, the climate crisis is making the Mediterranean particularly vulnerable – temperatures in Greece have risen by over 1.5°C over the past 40 years.

Forest fires remain a threat, but Greece is taking steps towards more effective prevention and response – through technology and regional cooperation.
Forest fire management in Turkey is led by the General Directorate of Forestry and implemented by regional forest departments. The country invests heavily in prevention, early detection and control, sparing no expense in fighting the fire. According to the 2023 EFFIS report, Turkey is among the leading countries in the use of innovative technologies – including artificial intelligence, computer simulations, drones and advanced cameras. A decision support system has been created that predicts the risk and behavior of fires in real time. Turkey has 776 fire observation towers and 368 cameras monitoring critical areas. In addition, there are 81 unmanned stations and a meteorological system that produces three-day fire danger forecasts. The most common causes of fires remain human negligence. In response, the country has been introducing restrictions on access to forests since June and has kept 26 aircraft, 14 drones and 105 helicopters on standby.

- Over 90% of fires in our country are caused by humans. Are we unreasonable, do we not think, or do we just do whatever we want?
- Between 2010 and 2024, over 90% of forest fires in Bulgaria were caused by human activity – mainly due to negligence, disregard for risk, and sometimes intentionally. Only 4% of fires have a natural origin – for example, from lightning. In over 80% of cases, the fire starts outside the forests – most often in agricultural lands or pastures, when burning stubble and dry vegetation, and subsequently transfers to forest areas. Despite legal prohibitions, these
harmful practices continue to be implemented. There is certainly something to be done in terms of prevention, educational campaigns and consistent application of sanctions and penalties. When society knows that every action has consequences – behavior changes. It is important for the state to invest in a long-term strategy for informing and engaging citizens. The responsibility is shared – not only of the institutions, but also of each of us.

- The fire in Veliko Tarnovo, which destroyed houses, was set on fire intentionally. It depends on how you look at it…
- Intentionally starting a fire, especially when it endangers human lives, homes and nature, is not just a crime - it is an act of extreme irresponsibility and aggression towards society. In the case of the fire in Veliko Tarnovo, it is a deliberate act, as seen in the camera recording. Such incidents should be viewed with zero tolerance. Intentional arson must be treated with the full severity of the law, because the damage is not measured only in burned buildings or acres of forest, but also in destroyed human destinies and a risk to the health and lives of people who put out fires on the front line.