Smoke over Skopje linked to Žeden wildfire, says director of rescue agency
Director Stojanche Angelov says visible smoke over Skopje comes from a wildfire on Mount Žeden near Bojane; authorities also report an active fire on Mount Kitka where an interior ministry helicopter has been deployed.
Smoke visible over parts of Skopje this afternoon is coming from a wildfire on Mount Žeden, near the village of Bojane, said Stojanche Angelov, director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DPR).
Earlier, the Crisis Management Centre (CMC) had indicated that the haze in the capital was being carried by strong winds from an active blaze on Mount Kitka, in the municipalities of Studeničani and Zelenikovo.
Two active fires and shifting smoke
According to Angelov, the fire on Žeden had so far been spreading from the Tetovo side and is now moving toward the Skopje side. The blaze is burning on steep, hard-to-reach terrain, which complicates firefighting efforts.
"In the operation, in addition to Skopje firefighters, their colleagues from Tetovo have also joined as support in tackling the fire," Angelov said.
He said authorities expect to bring the Žeden fire under control during the afternoon. "Firefighters are giving their all, but they are exhausted, because for days they have not rested as we have had multiple fires both in the City of Skopje and in the Municipality of Tetovo," Angelov added.
The Crisis Management Centre reiterated that the haze over Skopje originates from the active fire on Mount Kitka, in the Studeničani and Zelenikovo areas. The Ministry of Interior has also deployed a helicopter to Kitka to help bring that fire under control.
Photo: press material from the event
