site.btaUPDATED Deputy Interior Minister Todorov: Wildfire Situation Improving, Helicopters to Join Firefighting

The wildfire situation in the country on Monday is better than on Sunday, said Deputy Minister of Interior Tony Todorov at a media briefing.

On Sunday, three crews arrived from France, Slovakia, and Hungary. “Last night, they were briefed on the situation in the country. They have declared their readiness to work and we hope they will be in the air within an hour,” the Deputy Minister said.

He added that the fire around the village of Strumyani remains extremely large and widespread. Funds must be redirected there as a matter of priority because the fire is raging and aerial water bombing will be very useful, Deputy Minister Todorov explained.

"Over the past 24 hours, 269 fires have been extinguished. The fire in Strumyani is currently the most severe. The fire could spread south and east towards Pirin Park. Other active fires are in Simitli, where the fire has been localized, in Pernik, and in the Plovdiv and Yambol regions, where there are two fires, but they are not threatening. The fire continues to burn in the village of Kozarevo, but there is no danger to its residents. The fires in Topolovgrad and Svilengrad are under control," Nikolay Nikolov, advisor to the Minister of the Interior, told the media.

No evacuations were necessary last night, said Zahari Vaskov, Director of the National Police Directorate.

Two people, aged between 34 and 40, have been arrested in connection with the arson attacks in the country. They have criminal records. By the end of the day, the Veliko Tarnovo District Prosecutor's Office, together with the director of the local police department, will provide more information, Vaskov added.