Belgrade, 16 July 2024 (MIA) – Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic attended Tuesday the sendoff of members of the Interior Ministry’s helicopter unit and emergency sector that took off for North Macedonia in a Kamov Ka-32 firefighting aircraft to join wildfire combating efforts, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports.

“We’re prepared to help whenever necessary having in mind, of course, the procedures and requests sent by other countries,” stated Dacic.

The authorities in North Macedonia, he added, are familiar with the capabilities and capacities of Serbia in terms of fighting blazes and they particularly asked for the Kamov Ka-32 firefighting helicopter because it can carry five tons of water.  

“Our units of the Emergency Sector take off together with the helicopter unit because they work together in this case,” Dacic said.

He noted that actions are taken in such situations only if a request for assistance has been sent. 

A seven-member crew is being dispatched in North Macedonia alongside the helicopter, according to the Serbian minister.

Dacic reiterated that Serbia is part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, formed to support efforts for preventing disasters and strengthening the preparedness of local protection units to act at national, regional and local level.

He said that the Emergency Sector members and the helicopter unit in the past have been deployed in other countries when faced with emergency situations, including battling wildfires.

The Russian-made Kamov Ka-32 firefighting helicopter is being sent outside Serbia for the first time, said Nenad Nedic, commander of the Interior Ministry’s helicopter unit, which is consisted of two Kamov Ka-32s. 

Serbian Interior Ministry members will be engaged in the efforts to combat the wildfires in Serta Mountain near the municipalities of Negotino, Konche and Shtip, said Emergency Sector Chief Luka Causic.

North Macedonia’s government this past weekend declared a 30-day state of crisis after the breakout of a number of wildfires across the country.