A large-scale fire that broke out in the area of the western bypass of Karnobat was completely extinguished after a massive rescue operation. Mayor Georgi Dimitrov told regional media that the incident was brought under control thanks to the coordinated efforts of multiple teams.
Over 150 people were involved in extinguishing the fire, including professional firefighters, volunteers, and local agricultural producers. Various heavy equipment was used to quickly limit the spread of the flames.
The fire affected significant areas – hundreds of acres of forests and dry grasses, even reaching the historical fortress "Markeli". According to the mayor's initial assessments, the architectural monument is slightly damaged – the walls are smoke-stained, but the structure is not seriously compromised.
The damages include burned-out apiaries and a cowshed nearby. A fortunate circumstance is that the neighboring pig complex remained unaffected, and the wooden bridge was saved in time by volunteer teams.
The Regional Inspection of Environment and Water in Burgas sent a mobile laboratory to conduct air measurements and perform an initial ecological assessment of the damages.
Regarding the causes of the fire, Mayor Dimitrov expressed his preliminary opinion about possible human negligence. "Most likely it is a discarded cigarette or another form of carelessness in an area with many passing vehicles," he stated.
Detailed terrain inspections are currently ongoing, with final conclusions to be made by investigating authorities.