Two wildfires active near Brnjari and in Volkovo
By 13:00 six outdoor fires were recorded nationwide; two remain active near Brnjari and Volkovo, authorities warn of arson and ask the public to report suspicious behaviour.
More than five outdoor fires were recorded during the day, but none turned into a major threat and authorities expect them to be brought under control shortly, Director Stojanche Angelov said in a video statement from the field.
Situation and response
Angelov reported that more than 25 open-space fires were extinguished yesterday, and described the most complex blaze as the one on the territory of the Municipality of Macedonski Brod, near Samokov.
"The fire moved into difficult-to-access terrain where a large number of firefighters from Macedonski Brod and three pincer-vehicles of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue intervened. The final blow to the fire was dealt by the rain that fell over the area yesterday afternoon," Angelov explained.
He also said that a large fire in the Municipality of Novaci burned a substantial area of flatland. Thanks to the work of firefighters, the local administration and farmers who assisted with machinery, that blaze was stopped and extinguished.
According to the Center for Crisis Management (CCM), by 13:00 today six outdoor fires had been registered across the country: four were already extinguished and two remained active. The active fires are near the village of Brnjari in the Municipality of Arachinovo and in the Volkovo neighbourhood of the Municipality of Gjorche Petrov, where low vegetation is burning. Extinguished fires include the ones in the village of Banjica (Chaska), Bidzevo (Struga), Senakos (Vrapchishte) and the landfill in Delchevo.
Angelov expressed gratitude to Macedonian firefighters for their rapid response and to citizens for their vigilance, but warned there is evidence of several intentionally set fires. "I urge citizens to remain conscientious and careful so they do not accidentally start a fire. Any suspicious behaviour should be reported to 112 or to the nearest police station," he said.
On the water supply in Gostivar, the director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue reported that recent analyses show an improvement in water quality compared with previous measurements, but that more time is needed before it can be declared safe to drink.
Photo: press material from the event
