Bogdanci, 4 August 2023 (MIA) — The large fire that tore through the Bogdanci region has been completely extinguished and most of the firefighters have left the area, where only a mop-up crew is dousing the hot spots smoldering in the remnants of the fire. The crew will remain on duty overnight to monitor the site, the Crisis Management Center said in a press release.

The fire destroyed 350 hectares of scrubland, the CMC said. The four windmills the fire had spread near were not damaged.

Two firefighting aircraft were sent from the Protection and Rescue Directorate on Thursday to extiguish the fire. Also deployed was a police helicopter.

On the ground, sixty local firefighters, National Forests staff, and employees of the Bogdanci water utility company were battling the flames.

The wildfire erupted around 11 am on Thursday in the Brdarov Kamen area next to the Dojran Lake pumping station.

Bogdanci Mayor Blazhe Shapov said the fire had started near farm fields. He suspected it had been caused by "a human factor." mr/