Angelov: 36 fires were reported yesterday, with the risk still very high

The risk of fires in open areas remains extremely high, warns Stojançe Angelov, director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue. More than 36 fires in open areas were reported yesterday.

Today, he said, a large movement of people and vehicles is expected, and he called on citizens to be extremely careful, because a single spark is enough to cause a disaster.

“At present, there are no alarming fires in the country. The fire in the Ramno–Skopje’s Black Mountain area is still active, and is being extinguished by Skopje firefighters with the support of the directorate’s mobile teams. At present, the fire does not pose a threat to the surrounding villages and facilities.”

“In addition to this fire, the fire in the villages of Selcë and Lokov, on the border between Struga and Dibër, is also active,” Angelov said. He informed that efforts to extinguish the fire had continued throughout the night.

“The fire is now partially under control, but the lush vegetation is making it more difficult to extinguish. This fire also poses no threat to the surrounding villages, buildings or other monasteries. Another fire is active near the village of Belica, Makedonski Brod. Yesterday afternoon, there was a risk that the fire would spread to the pine forest of the Jasen hunting ground, but following the swift response by Jasen employees and three aerial tractors from the State Firefighting Service, the fire was brought partially under control,” Angelov said.

This morning, additional teams from the Directorate for Protection and Rescue and Pinzgauers, Angelov explained, were deployed along the fire line and are preventing it from spreading further. Angelov is optimistic that full control will be established during the day.