site.btaFive Fire Crews Remain on Duty in Pirin Mountains after Large Blaze, Blagoevgrad Fire Chief Says

Five fire crews and forestry officials remain deployed in the Pirin Mountains, where firefighters, forest workers, and volunteers battled a large wildfire for several days, said Commissioner Valentin Vasilev, Director of the Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection in Blagoevgrad, during a briefing on Monday.

Teams are patrolling the area and working to extinguish remaining hotspots within the perimeter of the fire, while also identifying new ones, Vasilev said.

Asked whether there is a risk of the fire reigniting near the village of Ilindentsi, Vasilev responded that the risk always exists, which is why crews are still on the ground. “These types of fires are extremely difficult to extinguish because they also affect the peat layer, which smolders deep underground. A hotspot may not appear for a day or two, then suddenly flare up again a week later, even far from the original perimeter,” he explained.

The wildfire near Ilindentsi broke out in the evening of July 25. Nearly 200 firefighters, forestry officials, and volunteers, along with aerial firefighting resources, took part in containing the blaze. Due to the fire’s spread, the nearby village of Ploski in the Sandanski region was evacuated on July 29. The evacuation was lifted on July 31 after rainfall in the area helped localize the fire.

Despite the severe situation, a 79-year-old resident of Ploski was found burning waste in his yard on Monday morning. The fire was detected during a drone patrol of the affected area, which is conducted daily to locate any active hotspots.

The man was identified with the assistance of the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Blagoevgrad, said Vasilev. An administrative violation report was issued, and the competent prosecution office has been notified. The man will face a fine of up to BGN 2,000.

“Lighting open fires, especially in such dry conditions, poses a significant risk of starting an uncontrollable wildfire,” Vasilev warned.