Skopje, 11 August 2024 (MIA) – Head of the Crisis Management Center (CMC) Stojanche Angelov said Sunday there are currently seven active outdoor fires and forest fires across the country, five have been contained, and 31 have been completely extinguished. 

According to Angelov, the largest fire burning near Jasen is gradually being brought under control. 

"We are gradually bringing the largest fire under control. The fire burning near Jasen is still active, though smaller. Twenty "Jasen" employees and local firefighters with a firefighting vehicle from Makedonski Brod are on the ground," said Angelov.

The fire headed towards the weekend houses at Lake Kozjak, he added, is extinguished and smoke is visible. 

"A backfire was created on the fire belt to prevent the fire from spreading to the weekend houses if reignited," the CMC head noted, adding that there's also fire spreading towards the village of Belica, where 20 members of the Macedonian Army and local firefighters are engaged, and there's no threat of the fire spreading. 

Another fire is burning on the territory of Ohrid municipality, more precisely on Galichica Mountain, headed towards Stenje, where 18 Red Cross volunteers, part of the mountain rescue service are engaged. Angelov noted that grass and low vegetation is burning, and he believes that the fire will be stopped and won't threaten houses at the base of the mountain. 

As regards the fire burning in the Pelagonia region, in Novaci municipality, Angelov said a decision has been made to engage two helicopters on Sunday.  

Regarding the fires burning in Kichevo, he said six air tractor planes are engaged, while National Forests employees are fighting the fire in Makedonski Brod. 

Photo: MIA archive