site.btaAir Force Mi-17 Helicopter Participates in Extinguishing Fire in Rila

A Mi-17 helicopter with a crew from the 24th Air Base of the Air Force has once again joined the efforts to extinguish the fire in the Rila National Park, the Ministry of Defence said.

The helicopter took off at 10:31 am to extinguish the fire from the air over the affected area in the village of Gorno Osenovo, Simitli Municipality.

The participation of the helicopter and military personnel in extinguishing the fire in Rila was requested by the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection of the Ministry of Interior.

On September 1, Mayor of Dolno Osenovo, Alexi Kranchov, said that the fire above the village of Gorno Osenovo was not yet fully under control, as there were trees that continued to burn.

More than 80 people have been working on the ground since Friday to bring the fire under control. Chief Inspector Yulian Petrov from the Fire Safety and Population Protection Service in Blagoevgrad explained that the terrain is very difficult to access, at an altitude of between 1,800 and 2,200 metres, and that aircraft are being used. he added that there is no danger to populated areas or villa zones, as the fire is high up in the mountains.

The fire broke out a few days ago in the Rila Mountains in the Rila National Park, in the area of the Simitli village of Dolno Osenovo.