site.btaUPDATED More than 90 People, Military Helicopter Involved in Extinguishing Wildfire near Ilindentsi

More than 90 people are involved in extinguishing the fire near Ilindentsi (Southwest Bulgaria), said Sandanski Forestry Department Director Simeon Efremov on Monday. He added that 50 forestry workers and over 40 firefighters are currently on site. A Cougar helicopter of the Bulgarian Air Force is also helping in the firefighting efforts.

Military personnel are also expected to join in the effort to control the fire. Efremov said that the areas affected by the fire are currently being surveyed. For now, the fire is low-level.

The wildfire in the Ilindentsi area broke out on July 25. Despite the teams sent to the site, it spread quickly. Five people living in the villa zone of the village of Ilindentsi, Strumyani Municipality, were evacuated. The causes of the fire, which started under a power line in the village of Ilindentsi, are still being investigated.

It is estimated that the burned area is more than 4,500 hectares, but no precise measurements have been made at this time.