site.btaFiring Practice Causes Fire at Training Ground

A fire broke out at the Koren Training Ground between the villages of Elena and Koren, Haskovo Region, on Thursday afternoon, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry reported.

The fire was caused by firing practice at ground targets during Exercise Thracian Viper 24. This is an integration exercise that brings together the air forces of the US, Romania and Greece to work alongside the Bulgarian Air Force.

Service members of the Bulgarian Air Force and the Land Forces are fighting the fire jointly with teams of the Haskovo Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection. 

The firing practice has been discontinued, the Ministry specified, adding that measures are being taken to contain the fire.

A fire that broke out near the Bryagovo Village Thursday afternoon started from the Koren Training Ground, BTA learnt from Bryagovo Mayor Delcho Mitev. The news was confirmed by the Haskovo Fire Service. The front of the fire can be seen from the village but does not endanger the settlement. Five teams with fire engines are on site, trying to extinguish grassland and bushes on an area of 20-30 hectares. No built-up areas are at risk at this point, said Haskovo Fire Chief Mitko Chakalov.