site.btaFire in Central Balkan Range Extinguished

A fire in the central part of the Balkan Range has been extinguished, the Ministry of Environment and Water said on Saturday.

The rain that fell around 4 pm over the area helped to bring the fire under control. For more than 72 hours, efforts to extinguish it continued in the Steneto reserve on the territory of the Central Balkan National Park, the Ministry said.

Employees of the park directorate, forest farms, firefighters from local regional services, over 55 military personnel from the 61st Stryamska Mechanized Infantry Brigade - Karlovo, 30 volunteers from formations from Sofia and Plovdiv participated in the action. Two specialized helicopters were also involved in the operation.

Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov and Minister of Environment and Water Petar Dimitrov were on site and assisted in providing additional equipment.

With the effort and participation of all involved, the fire did not manage to enter the conifer massif and cause serious damage to the natural habitats.

Earlier on Saturday, Stoyanov said that the area of ​​the fire is extremely difficult and inaccessible.