site.btaSunday's Fire Situation

A dry-grass and shrubs fire that broke out around 11 a.m. on Saturday in the area of the villages of Filipovo, Prisadets, Matochina and Varnik near Svilengrad (Southeastern Bulgaria) has been brought under control but is not yet localized, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry reported on its website on Sunday.

Eighteen fire engines, 30 firefighters, 15 forest rangers and 30 volinteers are fighting the fire at this point. There is no risk for the nearby settlements, the press release specified. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food said that on Sunday the fire affected some 300 hectares of woodland and its front reached 15 km.

Haskovo Regional Governor Ginka Raycheva told BTA that the northern front of the fire is under control. The still smouldereing sections are inaccessible. She said that the strong wind is a major obstacle to coping with the disaster.

Villages and farmland in the area have not sustained damage, except for deserted vineyards and almond trees, the Regional Governor also said.

On Saturday evening, the blaze spread shortly into neighbouring Turkey. Approximately 1,000 hectares are affected in Topolovgrad and Svilengrad municipalities in the Eastern Sakar Mountain.

Replying to a question, Raycheva said that the state of disaster in the two municipalities remains in effect and will be lifted if things change for the better.

On Saturday, the Regional Governor ordered evacuation of the residents of Varnik and Matochina but the measure was cancelled after the fire was stopped before reaching the houses. Only three residents of Prisadets were taken out of their homes as a precaution.

More than 80 firefighters, military and forest rangers keep fighting a wildfire in the area of the village of Dobrostan, Asenovgrad Municipality (South Central Bulgaria), the Plovdiv Fire Service said on Sunday.

The fire broke out on Saturday and due to wind gusts spread to an area of some 5 hectares of coniferous and deciduous woodland on a rugged terrain. Dry leaves, grass, branches and shrubs are easily flammable, but the main problem is a 50-60 cm thick turf layer on the ground.

The Defence Ministry said on Sunday that Land Forces and Air Force personnel share in putting out a fire in the area of Dobrostan.

At the request of the Plovdiv Regional Governor and after permission from the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, 45 service persons of the 4th Artillery Regiment in Asenovgrad with six units of equipment joined the fire-fighting effort in the morning.

Responding to a request from the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, an AS 532 AL Cougar helicopter from the 24th Air Base in Krumovo is engaged in aerial fire-fighting on Sunday.