Major Fire in Vlora’s Soda Forest, Smoke Blankets City as Firefighters Battle Flames

A large fire broke out this afternoon in Vlora’s Soda Forest, creating a dense cloud of smoke that has blanketed much of the city.

The fire started inside the pine forest near the railway line in the Zvërnec area, while smoke is visible from several neighborhoods in Vlora.

Immediately after the alert was raised, police officers and firefighters were dispatched to the area and are working to contain and extinguish the flames. According to preliminary information, the situation is difficult because the fire is spreading through an area with dense vegetation, while the wind is helping the flames advance.

Fire service sources said that five fires are currently active simultaneously in Vlora, making it difficult to deploy crews across the affected areas. In addition to the fire in the Soda Forest, operations are also underway in Dukat, near the Llogara Tunnel, in the Freight Park area and in Triport.

So far, neither the cause of the fire nor the area affected by the flames is known, while authorities are continuing efforts to bring the situation under control.