Fierce battle against large-scale forest fire in Sungurlare municipality
Two Swedish planes have been dispatched to the village of Slavyantsi in Sungurlare municipality to assist in fighting the growing forest fire, Commissioner Nikolay Nikolaev, director of the Regional Directorate of "Fire Safety and Population Protection" in Burgas, told the Bulgarian News Agency.
According to Commissioner Nikolaev, the fire covers a significant area and is spreading in two main directions. "One front passes through a populated area, and the other is moving through dense forest. In this part, the fire is at the treetops, which necessitates the use of aerial equipment", he explained.
Currently, one helicopter is already operating on site, carrying out water bombings, and a second one will soon join the efforts. Fire department teams and population protection services have been mobilized in the village of Slavyantsi and the neighboring village of Balabanchevo, where there is also a risk of fire spread.
Despite the scale of the disaster, there are currently no reports of injured people or damage to buildings and structures. As a preventive measure, 40 people from the home for disabled elderly in the village of Slavyantsi have been evacuated.
In response to the crisis situation, the mayor of Sungurlare municipality, Dimitar Gavazov, has issued an order declaring a state of emergency in five settlements - the town of Sungurlare and the villages of Beronovo, Skala, Slavyantsi, as well as the settlement of Balabanchevo. The state of emergency has been declared for an indefinite period.
The situation remains dynamic, with authorities and fire services continuing to make efforts to control the fire and protect the population in affected areas. The arrival of the Swedish planes is expected to significantly increase the aerial capacity for fighting the fire and help limit its spread.
Local residents are urged to closely follow the instructions of the authorities and be prepared for evacuation if the situation worsens. Meanwhile, environmental experts express concern about the potential long-term consequences of the fire on local flora and fauna.