Fires in Valandovo area: landfill blaze still active, aerial support deployed
A blaze at the Valandovo landfill spread fast and drew two Air Tractor aircraft; Udovo fire has been declared extinguished.
Two wildfires broke out in the Valandovo area on the afternoon of July 31, 2026; one was contained near the town while a second blaze that erupted by the municipal landfill remained active and required aerial firefighting support.
The first fire was reported at around 13:00 in the fields around the village of Udovo, and ground firefighting crews were dispatched immediately to the scene.
Dump blaze spread quickly, mayor requested air support
Soon after the Udovo incident, a separate fire ignited at the local landfill outside Valandovo. With a light breeze, flames spread rapidly into the surrounding low vegetation. The steep and difficult-to-access terrain, together with dense vegetation, hampered ground operations.
Valandovo mayor Gjoko Kamchev promptly asked for help from the air. The Directorate for Protection and Rescue activated two Air Tractor aircraft to assist the firefighting effort.
Director Stojanche Angelov of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue reported that "The fire near the village of Udovo has been completely extinguished." The landfill fire was brought under partial control, but remained active on one flank at the time of the report.
Photo: press material from the event
