Fire engulfs six vehicles in parking lot near bus station in Veles

A dangerous fire broke out this afternoon near the Bus Station in Veles, but thanks to the rapid mobilization of the city’s Territorial Firefighting Unit (NJTZ), greater material losses were avoided.

The alert about the incident came at 13:45, when it was reported that a car had been engulfed in flames. Upon arriving at the scene, the intervention team found that the fire had initially spread through dry vegetation in the area between the road and the parking lot, before extending and damaging at least six parked cars.

One fire engine and three firefighters took part in the extinguishing operation. Thanks to their immediate response, they managed to isolate the fire’s source and prevent further spread to other vehicles.

Following this incident, the Veles NJTZ renewed its appeal to the public, urging them to avoid lighting fires in open areas, especially amid high temperatures and the presence of dry vegetative matter.

Via a social media post, Veles firefighters also issued a special warning to farmers in the municipalities of Veles, Čaška, and Gradsko, not to practice straw burning, and to citizens not to set fire to dry grass. They stressed that such behavior has in the past provoked numerous fires with severe consequences for the ecosystem and property.

The most recent large-scale incident in the Veles area was recorded on June 30. At that time, a fire that started above the city, in the area of the Štip Intersection and the Municipal Landfill, quickly spread in several directions, affecting the “Trite Dola”, “Sabotna Voda”, and “Sarier” localities, and dangerously approaching the village of Mamučevo.

The consequences of that fire were significant: several hectares of dry grass, vineyards, and low vegetation were scorched, while damage was also recorded to holiday homes, solar panels, and other structures.