DZS: Two large, complex wildfires remain active — Gracani and between Struga and Debar
DZS director Stojanche Angelov says crews have air support and expects partial control of the Gracani blaze by late evening.
Despite widespread rain over much of the country, the number of wildfires has not fallen; officials recorded at least 31 separate fires yesterday. Stojanche Angelov, director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DZS), said in a video statement that some new blazes appear to have been started intentionally and urged citizens to stay alert.
Angelov singled out two large, complex incidents that remain active. The first is the fire around the villages of Gracani and Nikishtane in the Gjorche Petrov municipality of Skopje. According to Angelov, that blaze crossed into the country from Kosovo three days ago and is still burning.
Air support and heavy machinery engaged
Skopje firefighters and DZS teams have been operating on the ground since early morning, supported from the air by one army and one police helicopter and by two ert-tractors. "At this moment I can say without reservation that the two villages, Gracani and Nikishtane, are not threatened by the fire, although there is a certain degree of concern among the population. I expect this fire to be brought under partial control by late this evening," Angelov said.
The second large wildfire stretches between Struga and Debar. Angelov said it covers a wide area of mixed forest on very difficult terrain. Firefighters from Struga are working on the ground, and DZS ert-tractors were scheduled to assist in the afternoon.
Angelov also warned that fires on Kitka and Zheden have been restarted deliberately. He identified one Kitka fire inside the Studenichani municipality and another inside Zelenikovo. "In recent days we struggled to extinguish the large fire that was burning on Zheden, but someone persistently and persistently sets new fires again from all sides of the mountain and from both the Skopje and Tetovo sides," he added. He urged anyone who spots suspicious behaviour to call 112, report to the nearest police station, or notify any police officer or firefighter immediately.
Photo: press material from the event
