site.btaKyustendil and Sofia Crews Rush to Assist North Macedonia in Battling Wildfire

Bulgaria has responded swiftly to a forest fire that broke out near Kriva Palanka, North Macedonia, which is spreading rapidly and poses a serious threat to homes in a nearby village and potentially to the town itself, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Ognyan Atanasov, Mayor of Kyustendil in Bulgaria, is currently in Kriva Palanka and is directly involved in coordinating efforts on site. A Bulgarian team with a fire engine from Kyustendil is already actively working to contain the blaze. The fire has three main hotspots, two of which are currently being brought under control, while work continues on the third, with confidence it will soon be contained as well.

A second Bulgarian team, dispatched from Sofia, is en route to the area. It is expected to provide additional support, including overnight presence, to prevent the situation from escalating again.

The Mayor of Kriva Palanka, Sashko Mitovski, expressed deep gratitude to the Bulgarian institutions and crews for their prompt and timely assistance. The Mayor of Kyustendil has also delivered water and provisions for the firefighters working on the ground.

The Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje is contributing logistical support. A vehicle carrying bottled water, accompanied by the deputy head of the diplomatic mission, has been sent to the scene.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior have all been informed. By order of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Bulgarian institutions are providing full assistance and remain ready to take further action if necessary.

The Foreign Ministry remains in constant contact with the relevant institutions in Bulgaria and North Macedonia and is closely monitoring the development of the situation, the press release added.