site.btaWildfire Near Strumyani Not Under Control Yet, Says Fire Safety Chief

The fire near Strumyani has not yet been brought under control, the head of the Fire Safety and Population Protection Directorate, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, told a briefing here on Monday afternoon. The large forest fire has been raging since Saturday.

In the early afternoon, strong winds began to fan the flames in some areas. There were problems with the weather conditions and it was not possible for the helicopters to operate, so they had to be withdrawn, he explained. "We currently have four helicopters in operation," said Dzhartov. He expressed hope that the wind would die down by evening. 

The specific in this situation is that sometimes gusts occur in the evening that fan the flames of isolated pockets of fire. It cannot yet be said that the fire is under control because that is not the case; there is still a lot of work to be done, added Dzhartov. He pointed out that teams of firefighters had been withdrawn earlier on Wednesday so as not to endanger their lives.

He has no information about damaged buildings.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Miroslav Rashkov also participated in the briefing.