site.btaClose to 1,300 Hectares Affected by Wildfire in Sakar Mountain

Over 1,300 hectares have already been affected by the fire in Sakar Mountain, head of Haskovo Regional Fire Safety and Civil Protection Service Mitko Chakalov said on Wednesday.

About 1,000 hectares are forest land, which has not been completely destroyed due to the ground-level fire. The remaining areas are pastures, vineyards and farmland, Chakalov said.

13 firefighting teams continue to battle the fire, which broke out on Monday between the villages of Mladinovo, Kostur and Lisovo. Fire crews remained on site overnight. Efforts are focused on the remaining active northwestern front, where heavy tracked machinery is expected to build a firebreak. Due to the rugged terrain, extinguishing is extremely difficult and is carried out mainly by hand.

In addition to firefighters, volunteers and employees of the forestry enterprises are engaged on site.

The partial state of emergency declared by the Svilengrad municipality for the area is still in effect.

A fire is also burning in Mt Rila, the Kyustendil police told BTA.