site.btaUPDATED Increase of Particulate Matter Detected after Tsalapitsa Fire

An increase in fine particulate matter was reported by the latest data of the mobile stations of the Regional Environment and Water Inspectorate-Plovdiv, said Plovdiv Regional Governor Prof. Hristina Yancheva, after a conversation with the director of the inspectorate, Ivaylo Yotkov.

The increase in values ​​resulted from a fire at the landfill in the village of Tsalapitsa, which broke out on Thursday evening. Other indicators were normal.

Extinguishing the fire at the landfill continues at this time. The spread of the fire has been limited and expected to be extinguished on Friday.

Regional Governor Yancheva convened a regional emergency taskforce  due to the fire at the landfill in Tsalapitsa, said the regional administration of Plovdiv.

Plovdiv Deputy Mayor Ivan Stoyanov arrived at the the scene of the fire, and heavy equipment and water carriers are assisting the fire fighters. The situation continues to be monitored and all institutions are working in a coordinated manner to extinguish the fire, added the Municipality.

Following the meeting of the regional emergency taskforce, Yancheva said that there was a decrease in the elevated values of particulate matter. “This situation will most likely continue on Saturday morning, as the cloud is in the direction of Plovdiv," she said.

Yancheva also reported that the fire is currently under control, and there is a lot of equipment on the ground working to contain and extinguish the flames. "The headquarters will also work tomorrow if necessary and will be called again if measures have to be taken to protect the population,"she added.

Plovdiv Deputy Mayor Ivan Styanov said that no agricultural areas were affected, and the perimeter of the fire was limited within the depot itself. He added that at this stage the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Chief Inspector Dimitar Brishimov, the head of the emergency rescue team at the Regional Directorate Fire Safety and Civic Protection - Plovdiv, said that the periodic measurements have not registered harmful gases for the time being.

Around 5:30 pm on Thursday, a fire broke out on the territory of the regional landfill for non-hazardous waste near the village of Tsalapitsa, Rodopi Municipality. The flames covered an area of ​​about 1.5-1.6 hectares. Agricultural equipment was called in to help plow around the landfill to prevent the fire from spreading to dry grass in the field. As a result of the fire, there was heavy smoke.