Fire crews stay overnight in Gaber after blaze spread from Morane

Firefighting teams from the City of Skopje will remain on the ground overnight in the village of Gaber, which was affected by a blaze that spread from the nearby village of Morane. Authorities said the objective is to protect Gaber and neighbouring settlements and to keep the situation under continuous surveillance.

Hard-to-reach terrain required aerial support

Because the terrain is steep and largely inaccessible, three Air Tractor aircraft from the Directorate for Protection and Rescue were deployed today to support the suppression effort from the air. On the ground, teams from the Firefighting Brigade of the City of Skopje are leading operations under the command of Zvonko Tomevski.

According to Center for Crisis Management director Muhamed Ali, the Air Tractor planes will return to operate again tomorrow in the early morning hours, working together with ground crews to fully localise and extinguish the fire.

Officials emphasised that crews will remain in the area through the night to prevent any rekindling and to monitor weather and wind conditions that could influence the fire's behaviour.

Authorities continue to coordinate aerial and ground efforts while prioritising the safety of residents and emergency personnel in the affected zone.

Photo: press material from the event