The cause of the powerful fire that engulfed Himara has not yet been determined. Mayor Vangjel Tavo said on News24’s “First Minute” program, hosted by journalist Ola Bruko, that clarifying the circumstances of the incident falls under the responsibility of the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office.
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Asked whether the flames may have been deliberately started, Tavo said he could not offer an assessment before the investigation was completed and an official report on the case was issued.
He added that he was not aware of any evidence or indication supporting suspicions of arson. As for claims that the fire may be part of a scenario linked to the Mountains Package, the mayor of Himara described them as “fairy tales.”
Tavo explained that the olive-growing areas were divided through AMTP and, for this reason, are excluded from the Mountains Package. He also said that within 25 minutes, the first fire front had approached homes, forcing him to order the evacuation of residents who were at risk.
As for the capacity to deal with the situation, Himara Municipality has six firefighting vehicles and one water tanker. According to Tavo, these vehicles are new and more than sufficient.
The causes are expected to be established by the investigation, while teams on the ground continue to assess the damage to homes, olive groves and other property belonging to residents.
