site.btaInterior Minister: Fire in Greece Not Expected to Reach Bulgaria in Next Two Days, Situation Under Control

The situation with the fire on the [Bulgaria-Greece] border is under control, caretaker Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov told journalists on Tuesday. If the fire goes towards Bulgaria, it will not reach the territory of the country in next two days, he added.

Stoyanov said that there is a mine field on Bulgarian territory near the fire.

"It is clear to everyone that a human foot cannot set foot there and we will not allow it," the caretaker Minister said. In cooperation with the forestry, clearings have already been built there. Stoyanov added that most of the of the forces that were concentrated to help in the firefighting of the territory of Yambol, are already located on the territory of Blagoevgrad and Sandanski.

Kalin Stoyanov thanked the firefighters from the Czechia and Spain, who joined the fight against fires in the country. The Spanish firefighters are leaving through Plovdiv Airport and the Czech firefighters will stay for another night in case they need to help.

As a matter of urgency, BGN 2.5 million is being allocated to cover some of the problems with the equipment and protective measures after the prolonged fires, the caretaker Minister said.

Stoyanov stressed that Spain and the Czechia provide important support to the country as part of the European Union. He thanked the firefighters and pilots who fought for seven days to extinguish the fires. “Personally, I am once again delighted by the quick response of the willing dedication of all these people who prevented human casualties and injured people,” Stoyanov said. On the Spanish side, two planes with a capacity of six tons of water and 28 crew members were working on the fires. From Czechia two helicopters and 19 people fought the fires.

“Our teams are in no way inferior to our colleagues from Spain and the Czechia,” Stoyanov said. Asked about the state of the Bulgarian equipment, he said that for reasons beyond the control of the Interior Ministry, public procurement is slowing down because the companies participating in the tenders are appealing and the procedure is becoming cumbersome. Stoyanov added that a lot of funds have been earmarked to buy the so-called personal protective equipment for all structures in the Ministry of Interior. ”For me, in a very urgent order, a procedure should be launched, I do not know whether with State Budget funds or with European funds, where we should provide at least two helicopters and an aircraft,” the Minister said.

He added that the Interior Ministry has made an estimate, which will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and the Finance Ministry, indicating the needs of the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection in terms of equipment and personal protective gear.