site.btaUPDATED Days-old Rhodope Wildfire Localized, Situation Is Under Control

The wildfire near Chepelare has been localized and the situation has calmed down, the Chepelare Municipality and the South-Central State Enterprise (SCSE) in Smolyan told BTA on Wednesday. There is no danger of the fire spreading to the neighbouring villages of Hvoyna and Studenets. The situation is now under control, Chepelare Municipality Public Relations Specialist Anelia Piskova assured.

The forest area burnt by the wildfire is over 150 ha, the Chepelare Municipality pointed out. The fight against the fire will continue tomorrow with extinguishing actions in its central area, SCSE said.

Earlier on Wednesday Defence Ministry said that two helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force joined the efforts to suppress the wildfire that has been burning near Chepelare in the Rhodope mountains for three days now. They take water from two micro-reservoirs near the towns of Asenovgrad and Laki.On Tuesday the two flew over the fire and dropped water 32 times.

Foresters are also participating in the fire-fighting in the area, the Agriculture Ministry said.