site.btaWild Fires Continue in Bulgaria amid Relentless Heat Wave

Wild fires continued in several parts of Bulgaria on Monday as a heating wave lasting more than a week now refuses to let go. Over 200 service persons of the Armed Forces participated in the fire suppression efforts where the fires were worst in the past three days, said the Defence Ministry. The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church offered prayers for the fire fighters and the people hurt in the flames. 

Fifty-one service persons with 11 Land Forces vehicles were dispatched to support the fire-fighters struggling with the flames near the southern village of Ivan Vazovo. More service persons with heavy-duty vehicles were fighting a fire at the village of Studena, Haskovo Region.

For a third day now, Air Force crews of the Krumovo air base were involved in fire-fighting efforts at several spots in the country. Two Air Force helicopters dropped 226 t of water over a fire at the village of Levkata in Haskovo Region. 

Service persons from the Land Forces and the Air Force were redeployed from a fire near Varna to a fire near the village of Slanchevo, Varna Region.

Hemus Motorway is closed to traffic again due to dense smoke coming from a fire near Slanchevo and Pripek, said Varna police Monday. The motorway stretch was closed on Sunday and reopened briefly on Monday morning. 

A partial state of disaster was declared in Stara Zagora, southern Bulgaria as a fire came dangerously close to a northern area with holiday homes. Рesidents have been warned to prepare and be ready to evacuate if needed. The fire fighters expect two helicopters to join their efforts and fight the flames from the air.

A fire was still reported burning in Osogovo mountain in Kyustendil region. Around noon it was reported that the flames had spread to 50 ha.

The Fire Safety Directorate General said that a total of 228 fires were put down in the past day. No one was reported killed or harmed.