Helicopter refilling from nearby pool speeds firefighting over Dragov Dol
A temporary pool by the Treska River allows a firefighting helicopter to refill locally and increase water drops over Dragov Dol.
A temporary water pool has been installed near the Treska River to speed up helicopter operations fighting a wildfire above the village of Dragov Dol in the Makedonski Brod municipality, the director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DZS) said.
"With the installation of the pool, the helicopter no longer has to fly to Lake Kozjak, which previously took about 15 minutes. Now it fills water from the pool in the immediate vicinity of the fire, allowing it to drop one ton of water on critical points every three to four minutes," Stojanche Angelov said.
The change shortens the helicopter’s turnaround time and increases the frequency of water drops over the most threatened sectors of the blaze.
Local crews and volunteers credited for containment
Angelov thanked the 25 volunteer firefighters from the DZS Forest Fire Module, five DZS operatives who are working with them, and the professional firefighting team from Makedonski Brod for their days-long efforts on the ground.
He also described a near-miss in the nearby village of Zelenikovo, where around 2 a.m. a fire advanced toward the last houses on a ridge. A frightened resident called for help as the flames approached her home, and prompt action by locals, volunteers, professional crews and Zelenikovo municipal services stopped the fire before it reached the houses.
Angelov said Mayor Kosta Manevski was notified and immediately sent the municipal fire vehicle to the threatened homes, personally driving it to the scene. Members of the Zelenikovo volunteer firefighting association arrived and joined extinguishing efforts. Residents also assisted by wetting areas around buildings and removing bushes and trees that could have fuelled the flames.
Angelov reiterated a general warning to the public about the elevated fire risk. "It takes only a single small spark for a real catastrophe," he said. Authorities reported that six fires are still burning across the country while one fire is under control.
Photo: printskrin / DZS
