Southwestern Bulgaria Battles Expanding Forest Fires and Landfill Blaze

Efforts to battle the three major forest fires in Southwestern Bulgaria, which intensified yesterday, are ongoing. Most resources today will be concentrated on containing the blaze in Pirin above the village of Senokos, where flight equipment will also be deployed.

The situation is particularly dire in the Pirin Mountains, where a fire erupted in one of the hamlets of Senokos late yesterday afternoon. Four houses were destroyed, and three people were evacuated. The fire is believed to have originated from the yard of one of the homes and rapidly spread to the forested area, reaching the critical state of another hamlet, Dyakovska, within two hours. Residents from this area have also been evacuated.

Despite helicopters and planes being redirected from Maleshevska Planina to Pirin last evening, the fire disaster could not be halted. Today, additional forces, including two Swedish planes and a helicopter, will focus on Pirin. In Maleshevska Planina, the situation is currently under control, according to Emil Iliev, the mayor of the Strumyani municipality. He refuted claims that the fire, which reactivated last night, had spread to the homes of Tsaparevo village, confirming that all residents had been evacuated.

Throughout the night, fire crews were on the ground and were replaced this morning with fresh forces, including numerous volunteers. The fire in Slavyanka Mountain has expanded into Bulgarian territory, with a pine forest burning in the Alibotush bioreserve. However, there is no immediate threat to the nearby village of Goleshovo.

The fire at the landfill near Tsalapitsa, which ignited yesterday afternoon, is still being fought. Heavy machinery has been brought in to begin "soiling" the area, as announced by Chief Inspector Dimitar...