A record number of 226 fires were recorded over the past 24 hours, requiring the deployment of 600 firefighters on the ground. This marks the highest level of activity since the start of the fire-risk season, which continues until the end of September, stated Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov. The Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection (GDFSPP) noted to the media that despite the tense situation, it is under control and there is no risk to residential areas or human lives.
Commissioner Dzhartov made a comparison with the previous two years, reporting a 25% decrease in the number of fires. However, he expressed regret that the statistics regarding the causes of these incidents remain consistent, as people have not become more cautious. According to him, this trend is solely due to favorable weather conditions and frequent rainfall throughout most of July. At the same time, he emphasized that the frequent incidents near the capital's Hristo Botev neighborhood and the Sofia region are caused by the unauthorized burning of tires and dry grass in illegal landfills.
At the moment, teams are battling two particularly problematic fires:
- The fire near the village of Anton, which remains uncontrolled despite efforts. The previous day, hurricane-force winds hindered the work of the firefighters, but today the battle continues with the support of a helicopter aimed at neutralizing crown fires. There is activity on the eastern and western fronts on the ground, and over 40 cubic meters of water have been deployed in the perimeter – an amount that Dzhartov described as significant, but insufficient for complete suppression.
- The fire in Rila, above Kirilova Polyana, which has flared up again. A drone with an 80-liter capacity is being used there, which, according to the director, is far too little for this type of large-scale fire.