site.btaUPDATED Military Personnel, Four Helicopters Involved in Extinguishing Fire near Voden

A total of 58 military personnel with specialized equipment and four helicopters were involved in extinguishing the fire near Voden, Yambol region, the Ministry of Defence said.

The fire is in a broad-leaved massif and on Saturday  it reached about 7,000 hectares, but it was not clear how much more area it spread over during the night.

Fire Safety and Protection of the Population Director Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov said on Sunday morning that the situation in the area remains complicated.

In less than 24 hours, the process of installing a permanent mobile cell in the area of ​​the village of Voden was completed and it has been in operation since Saturday night, the government press service said. The cell was installed after an emergency meeting between caretaker Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeikov with the mobile operators to solve the problem with the lack of mobile coverage.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev travelled to Voden on Sunday to check on the spot the implementation of the commitment undertaken by the mobile operators to provide a cell to ensure communication in the village.

By the end of the day, containers for temporary accommodation will arrive in the villages of Voden and Krainovo, said Glavchev. The first container is already in the village, with a total of 15 expected to be delivered. 

Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov, who is also in Voden, said that the situation was calm and all villages were safe after fires raged in the southeastern Bolyarovo Municipaity.

"By the end of today, the first containers will be placed on the territory of the village of Voden, and I hope that they will have electricity and communication," said Stoyanov.

The caretaker Minister noted  that there was no way the containers could have arrived sooner without the fire being contained and the site secured. They will be distributed according to people's need.

Stoyanov pointed out that the subject of the fires was being politicized.

Prime Minister Glavchev thanked and awarded the Turkish firefighters who fought the fire, together with their Bulgarian colleagues, military personnel, forest officials, volunteers, etc. "The Turkish firefighters turned up literally hours after we asked them for help, they are still here and working around the clock in the field," he said.

Fighting the fire continued on Sunday and is expected to be extinguished by planes in the afternoon.