The areas of Harmanli and Pirin - above Strumyani, are under intense observation due to extremely risky meteorological conditions. The Director of the General Directorate "Fire Safety and Population Protection" (GDPBZN) Chief Commissioner Aleksandar Dhartov warned about the serious fire situation on bTV.
The main challenges stem from hard-to-reach terrain and unstable atmospheric conditions. Strong afternoon winds can reignite extinguished fires with exceptional intensity, which requires special preventive measures. Experts are changing their strategy, focusing their activities mainly during night and early morning hours.
Statistics speak eloquently – an average of 120 fires are registered daily, and the trend shows no signs of weakening. Forecasts of temperature increases in the coming days further complicate the operational situation. In hurricane winds, fires can become completely uncontrollable.
Quantitative data confirms the growing threat – in July this year, 3,500 fires were registered, which represents a significant increase compared to the 3,000 fires for the same period last year. The Chief Commissioner emphasized that the main reason lies in human negligence and underestimation of risk factors.
International cooperation plays a key role in dealing with the emergency situation. Bulgaria continues to rely on specialized aircraft from Sweden, while simultaneously participating in the European Civil Protection Mechanism. Recently, Bulgarian firefighters returned from a mission in Greece, where they assisted local teams in fighting fires.
Currently, no GDPBZN employee is engaged in international operations, but the readiness for rapid response remains extremely high. The situation is continuously monitored, with prevention and minimizing the risks of new outbreaks being the priority.