Pirin National Park continues to battle a persistent fire that has been causing concern among the local population and environmentalists for a week now. Although the situation is currently relatively calm, the fire is still not fully under control, according to the press center of the Ministry of Environment and Water.
According to the latest data provided by the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection, there is currently no visible smoke in the area, and the fire has not spread to new territories of the national park. This is encouraging news for the teams on the ground who have been tirelessly fighting the flames since the beginning of the incident.
More than 150 people have been mobilized on site, including firefighters, forest officials, volunteers, and military personnel. Their efforts are supported from the air by two military helicopters, which play a key role in locating and extinguishing hard-to-reach hotspots.
We expect to soon fully localize the two main hotspots we've been fighting since the beginning of the week
said the operation's leader, Chief Commissioner Nikolay Nikolov.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of all participating teams and favorable weather conditions, we have a real chance to get the situation under control in the coming days
he added.
The fire in Pirin has attracted the attention of the entire country, highlighting the importance of preserving Bulgaria's natural treasures. Pirin National Park, which is part of UNESCO's World Natural Heritage, is home to rare plant and animal species, some of which are endemic to the region.
Experts from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences have already begun assessing the damage caused by the fire to the park's ecosystem. Preliminary data indicate that although there are affected areas, the rapid response of the firefighting teams has prevented more serious damage.
The Minister of Environment and Water called on citizens to be extremely careful when visiting mountain areas and to follow all fire prevention measures, especially in the summer season when the risk of such incidents is highest.
The situation in Pirin National Park remains under constant monitoring, with authorities assuring that they will continue to inform the public about the development of events and the final extinguishing of the fire.