Türkiye assists Bulgaria in fighting bush fires

Türkiye’s governorships of Edirne and Kırklareli have sent personnel and equipment to help Bulgaria fight the country’s devastating bush fires, a statement by the Turkish embassy in Sofia said.

Edirne and Kırklareli, close to the Bulgarian border, sent 40 personnel and various vehicles and other equipment.

Further vehicles and a helicopter were to arrive on the morning of July 18.

“In addition to the helicopter on standby in Edirne, efforts are being made to arrange additional helicopters and airplanes. As Türkiye, we do not leave our neighbour Bulgaria alone in these difficult days and provide all necessary support,” the embassy said.

Widespread bush fires have plagued Bulgaria in recent days amid several consecutive days of scorching record-high temperatures.

On July 17, Bulgaria’s caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov ordered all military units to be on standby to assist in firefighting. Wednesday was the sixth consecutive day that military units helped in containing the blazes.

Interior Ministry chief secretary Dimitar Kangaldzhiev told a briefing on July 18 that over the past 24 hours, fire departments throughout the country have responded to a total of 245 reports and 184 fires had been extinguished.

The active fires are currently in the Plovdiv region – Otets Paisievo and on the territory of Yambol – in the municipality of Bolyarovo, near the village of Voden.

Today, both Czech helicopters will be involved in the firefighting. The helicopters were sent by the European Commission after Bulgaria requested assistance under the  EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

“Today, we will consider whether to include another helicopter of the Ministry of Defence to assess the damage,” Kangaldzhiev said.

The night passed relatively calmly in the village of Voden, the fire there is largely under control, caretaker Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said.

Additional difficulties were created by the constantly changing direction of the wind. There were 25 teams of firefighters on the ground, including from Türkiye, military personnel, forestry employees, and volunteers.

According to Stoyanov, “a large part of the residents of Voden refused to leave their homes” and were forcibly removed.

“In parallel with the actions in the village of Voden, we secured the neighbouring villages of Shakovo, Kraynovo and Gorska Polyana, where the Strandzha gas transmission station is located, where there are firefighting teams around the clock”.

As a result of climate change and more frequent and devastating fires, the Interior Ministry will carry out an analysis of the fire department’s need for additional equipment. Stoyanov said that the priority is the purchase of helicopters or other aircraft to fight fires.

(Photo: Defence Ministry)

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