Electrical Spark Ignites Fire in Finiq, Residents and Firefighters Battle Flames for Hours

A massive fire swept through several villages in the Municipality of Finiq, endangering homes, tourist resorts and hundreds of hectares of olive groves.

Fanned by strong winds, the flames spread rapidly from the hills of Matomare toward Kostar, Mesopotam and Vllahat. As the fire approached residential areas, authorities mobilized all available forces to protect residents and homes, correspondent Entjola Budo reports.

Top Channel visited Kostar and Bralat, two of the villages where the fire came very close to residential areas. The situation was most critical in Kostar, where the flames reached the yards of homes.

Until the helicopters arrived, residents used makeshift tools to prevent the fire from spreading further. They described the aerial intervention as crucial in preventing a tragedy.

For more than six hours, residents and firefighting crews worked together to save homes and property. The flames were brought under control only after three Cougar helicopters were deployed from the air.

There were also difficulties in Mesopotam and Vllahat. Firefighters took up positions near homes to halt the fire’s advance, while the three Cougar helicopters repeatedly dropped water over the area, neutralizing the hotspots posing the greatest danger.

The regional prefect, the general director of the fire service and the mayors were at the scene. According to them, the fire was caused by an electrical spark.

Although the threat to homes has passed, the damage left behind is considerable. Large areas of olive groves have been completely destroyed, while residents are seeking compensation for their losses, proper clearing of the area and improvements to infrastructure to prevent such incidents from happening again.