Four wildfires burn around Tetovo; Angelov says they appear to be set deliberately
Director Stojance Angelov says four fires are active around Tetovo and that investigations point to arson; a large blaze near Skopje will be fought overnight and into tomorrow morning.
Four separate wildfires were burning in the Tetovo region on Wednesday evening, and Stojance Angelov, director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, told reporters he has information the fires were deliberately set.
"One of the fires is located on the territory of the Jegunovce municipality in the cadastral area of the village Kopance where forest and low vegetation are burning. The second is on the territory of the Tetovo municipality in the cadastral area of the village Dzepchishte where low vegetation is burning. The third is on the territory of the Tearce municipality in the cadastral area of the village Prshovce, where low vegetation is burning. The fourth is in the Zhelino municipality, village Ciflik, where low vegetation and mixed forest are burning," Angelov said.
Fire lines remain long; crews to continue at dawn
Angelov also reported that the fire in the area of the village Ramni Gaber in the Studenicani municipality near Skopje remains active and that the fire line is long, so extinguishing efforts will continue tomorrow morning.
Muhamed Ali, director of the Center for Crisis Management, added that firefighting teams will stay on the ground through the night to protect the village and nearby settlements.
"Unfortunately, the fire will continue to burn during the night. The fire line is quite long. During the day three air tractors were operating. They significantly slowed it down but it is not extinguished. Here on site acted members of the Skopje Brigade for Fire Protection, supported by teams from the Directorate with four Pinzgauers," Angelov said.
Angelov said the situation with open-space fires deteriorated significantly today: in the afternoon the Directorate recorded at least 21 open-space fires, many of which remain active.
He singled out a difficult-to-extinguish blaze on the territory of the Macedonian Brod municipality near the place Vidush close to the village Dragov. "Tomorrow morning we will send a module of the Directorate composed of volunteer firefighters who have special training for fighting forest fires," Angelov said, adding that the fire affects rocky terrain with shrubs, thorn and dry grass, making access and work very difficult.
Heavy fires are also active above the village Morane in the Studenicani municipality, where three air tractors continue working. Skopje firefighters are on site supported by four teams from the Directorate with Pinzgauers. "There is also an active fire on the territory of the Zelenikovo municipality, above the village Strahojadica, where a severe fire occurred a few years ago. We also have a serious fire in the Kichevo municipality above the village Manastirsko Dolnenci, which threatens the local monastery. I believe local firefighters will prevent the flames from reaching the monastery. There we will send additional strengthening tomorrow morning," Angelov said.
Photo: илустрација / Телевизија M»Net HD / Фејсбук / скриншот
