Skopje, 14 July 2024 (MIA) - The Crisis Management Center (CMC) said Sunday that seven wildfires are active across the country. After the Government declared late Saturday a 30-day state of crisis, upon request of the Negotino crisis HQ, firefighters are battling the blazes in the Negotino region integrating air and ground operations since this morning.  

A hundred members of the Army, members of the Ministry of Interior, hunters, forest workers, as well as a police helicopter and two MI 8/17 helicopters of the Air Wing are also deployed to help tackle the wildfires. 

In addition to the fire at Serta mountain, wildfires are also active near the village of Badilen in the Shamok area of the municipality of Novo Selo, between the villages of Negorci and Kovanec in the municipality of Gevgelija, between the villages of Gorni and Dolni Lipovikj in the municipality of Konche, between the villages of Drenovo and Dolno Jabolchishte in the municipality Chaska, near the village of Crnilishte in the municipality of Dolneni and between the villages of Dragoevo and Selce in the municipality of Shtip.

Late on Saturday, the regional road Shtip-Negotino was closed to traffic due to the fire at Serta mountain, and it has been reopened since this morning. 

The Government late on Saturday declared a 30-day state of crisis at the request of the Negotino crisis HQ. 

The Government tasked the Ministry of Interior to deploy police forces in support of firefighting efforts, and the Ministry of Health and the healthcare staff to be on standby for the duration of the state of emergency, while the Ministry of Finance to provide additional funds should the need arise.

"The President of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia will be notified about the adopted decision on a nationwide state of crisis due to the outbreak of numerous major wildfires throughout the Republic of North Macedonia, in accordance with Article 31 of the Law on Crisis Management. To effectuate the decision on a nationwide state of crisis due to the outbreak of numerous major wildfires throughout the Republic of North Macedonia, and based on the proposal given by the Steering Committee for Coordination and Management of the Crisis Management System, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia proposes to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia to pass a decision on participation of part of the members of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (type and number of troops and capacities of the army units, purpose and tasks for which they are required and the duration of the activity and engagement of the army units), in dealing with with the crisis situation," the Government said in a press release. 

The Government urged citizens for caution while in forests and outdoor areas affected by fires.

In addition, the Government tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in cooperation with the Public Enterprise for State Forest Management "National Forests" - Skopje, to report at the next Government session on the situation and the need to limit the movement of people in forests and forest areas.

According to CMC data published yesterday, in just 12 days in July there were a total of 173 major wildfires.  

Photo: MIA archive, CMC