site.btaChief Commissioner Dzhartov Gives Update on Wildfires Situation

There are over 200 active fires in the country, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, Head of the Fire Safety and Population Protection Directorate General, told the Bulgarian News Agency on Sunday.

“Strong winds continue to blow in the area of the fire near the village of Ilindentsi (southwest Bulgaria). At the moment, it is not possible to extinguish the fire,” said the Chief Commissioner. He reported that the first helicopter, from Hungary, had just landed. A total of three are expected to land later in the day. The fourth helicopter and two planes are expected on Monday, he explained. “The necessary procedures related to the use of the helicopters are yet to be completed, and then I hope we will be able to use them starting tomorrow,” Dzhartov said.

He pointed out that the terrain of the Ilindentsi fire is extremely difficult and very dangerous when there is strong wind.

He described the situation in the country as extremely difficult. "Colleagues continue to fight the fires. There are many fires covering a large area. The wind continues to blow throughout the day and has made our work extremely difficult. The intensity of the wind is gradually decreasing, but it will take almost the entire night to bring the localized fires under control. Very strong winds and numerous fires throughout the day," summarized the Chief Commissioner.

"The situation is difficult throughout the country, especially in the southern part where we had many fires. Starting with Sliven, Burgas, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Yambol, Haskovo, we had several more fires in Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, almost the entire southern part of the country was extremely busy in terms of fires. Our colleagues struggled with strong winds throughout the day," Dzhartov added.

"There is danger for the residents of a village near Stara Zagora, but our colleagues are standing between the fire and the village, so I hope they will stop the fire. The unpleasant thing is that there is a very strong wind and the fire is very difficult to control. The situation has been repeating itself yesterday and today. In the morning, there is a lull for a few hours, then strong winds start and the fires, which have been contained and are under control, begin to spread uncontrollably," he said.