CMC: Nine of 13 Wildfires in Open Areas Remain Active

The Crisis Management Center has announced that, as of 1:00 p.m., a total of 13 wildfires had been recorded in open areas across the country. According to the data, nine remain active, three have been brought under control, while one has been completely extinguished.

Active fires have been reported in Resen, Saraj, Zelenikovo, Čaška, Bogovinje, Vrapčište, Novo Selo, Struga and Krivogaštani. These include the fire in Podmočan, Resen, and the one in Kopanica–Raduša, Saraj, both of which have engulfed forested areas.

Meanwhile, the situation on Pelister, where the fire described so far as the most difficult and complex had been burning, has been brought completely under control. Numerous forces took part in the firefighting operation, including an army helicopter, Air Tractor aircraft, firefighters from several regions and volunteers, Protection and Rescue Directorate Director Stojanče Angelov said.

Angelov said it was one of the most difficult forest fires of this season. According to him, the aim was to extinguish the flames completely or, if that proved impossible, to slow their spread and prevent them from reaching the high-quality forest in Pelister National Park. Local firefighters from Resen were at the scene, strongly supported by firefighters from Bitola. Protection and Rescue Directorate teams also joined the operation, including firefighters with five Pinzgauer vehicles, as well as volunteer firefighting groups. He said that during the morning he had also requested the deployment of teams from National Forests, which would take part in fighting the fire during the day.