site.btaUPDATED Interior Minister in Stara Zagora: Containing the Fire Is Top Priority Now

Caretaker Minister of Interior Kalin Stoyanov, who was in Stara Zagora on Tuesday, told reporters that the current top priority is to contain the fire that started on Monday afternoon. Everything else is secondary, including the possible identification of the perpetrator.

Stoyanov said: "I have been assured that there is currently no danger to the settlements and [there are no] citizens in distress. There are numerous fire brigades, municipality teams, Ministry of Defence personnel, numerous volunteers that are currently involved in tackling the fire."

The Minister reported that a procedure under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been launched and added: "We have a response and confirmation from Czechia, from where two helicopters will be sent, and confirmation is also expected from Romania. We are working very actively, I think we will cope with this disaster, but it is very important to appeal to all citizens to be more responsible and reasonable, as high temperatures and strong winds are making the disaster difficult to manage."

Two helicopters are already assisting in extinguishing the fire, and two more are expected to join the efforts.

The Stara Zagora Regional Prosecution Service is working on pre-trial proceedings to establish the causes of the forest fire, the state prosecution reported. Witnesses have been questioned and active evidence gathering is ongoing.

Inspections of the scene and a fire expertise will be carried out. The investigation period can last up to two months.