Strong thunderstorm activity during an afternoon storm led to a fire in the lands of the village of Kalekovets, near Plovdiv. The incident occurred yesterday around 16:30, when a lightning bolt struck a large wheat field and set it on fire. According to eyewitnesses, the sound of the thunder was extremely loud, and shortly after that, the initial smoke was visible.
The fire spread quickly across the dry land, with flames engulfing several decares of wheat crops. The smoke even reached a section of the Trakia Motorway, which caused concern among passing drivers. The situation serves as a reminder of how dangerous a seemingly "dry thunderstorm" can be when the rain is not enough to dampen the vegetation.
Local farmers responded immediately and joined in the effort to contain the fire. They used available agricultural machinery to limit the spread of the flames, while the rain that began to fall partially assisted in the extinguishing process. Despite this, the flames managed to grow significantly before they were brought under control.
Several agricultural machines were sent to the scene and are currently still working on the final extinguishing of the fire and securing the perimeter around the affected area. According to preliminary data, several decares of crops have been burned, and the exact damages are yet to be assessed.
According to local authorities, there is currently no danger of the fire spreading to neighboring territories or residential areas. However, it is reminded that during thunderstorms and high temperatures, the risk of such incidents is serious, both near Plovdiv and in other parts of the country, including regions like "thunderstorm Varna", where strong summer storms are also frequently observed.