Wildfire near Saranda brought under control after aerial firefighting
Firefighters and a Cougar helicopter contained flames that burned pine forest and threatened homes near the centre of Saranda.
A large wildfire that broke out in Saranda this afternoon and threatened residential neighbourhoods close to the city centre has been brought under control after a combined ground and aerial response.
Two fire trucks and nine employees from the Municipal Fire Service of Saranda were deployed to the scene, and crews received additional support from neighbouring municipalities. A Cougar helicopter was used for water drops to help contain the flames.
The head of the Municipal Fire Service of Saranda said: "The rugged terrain prevented access by firefighting vehicles to the area where the fire continued. For this reason, aerial intervention was requested to extinguish the fire."
Flame spread and smoke over the coastal town
The fire consumed a large area of pine trees and dense vegetation on the hilly slope above the town, creating heavy smoke that hung over the coastal city. Strong winds and the steep terrain helped the fire spread quickly and alarmed local residents.
At one stage the blaze advanced toward buildings situated close to the historic monastery "40 Martyrs", heightening concerns about damage to property.
Firefighting teams remain on the ground monitoring the area to prevent any renewed outbreaks driven by gusting winds.
Photo: press material from the event
