site.btaInterior Ministry Secretary General: Fires in Plovdiv Region Under Control

The fires in the Plovdiv Region are under control, said Interior Ministry Secretary General Dimitar Kangaldzhiev, who visited the village of Mihiltsi. There is no danger to the life, health and property of those living near the fire, he said. The fire is still burning in a wooded area between the municipalities of Kaloyanovo and Hisarya, as it is a high-altitude fire it is inaccessible to firefighters currently, he added.

A total of 39 servicemen from the disaster management and relief unit are involved in extinguishing the fire, the Defence Ministry said. They are from the 61st Stryama Mechanized Brigade, and eight units of specialized equipment are also dispatched.

So far, more than 60 volunteers have been involved in controlling the flames, 80 fire department employees with more than 30 vehicles. Employees of the State Forestry Department have also joined the firefighting operation, Kangaldzhiev said.

There is also no cause for concern for a military depot located near the fire. The 61st Stryama Mechanized Brigade is also involved in its protection. The warehouse is used to store the equipment of the Military Medical Academy - carbon dioxide cylinders. Vegetation is in close proximity, but a bulldozer has been deployed to make clearings and prevent the fire from spreading, explained Kangaldzhiev.

According to the Director of the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, the biggest challenge is the wind. When there is such a strong wind, the fire immediately rises up and this prevents bringing in teams because it becomes too risky, Dzhartov added.

We hope that in the later hours we will have the opportunity to be a little more active because the wind is beginning to subside, he added. 

The cause of the fires is still unclear, and it is difficult to predict how they will develop tomorrow. If there is a need, through the respective mayors, we will let them know if there is a need for volunteers and where to get involved, Alexander Dzhartov added. 

For the moment, the flames continue to spread more in the direction of Hisarya, but there is no danger to people. There are also no reports about damages to property.