The wildfire that broke out on Prespa’s side and is headed toward the Pelister National Park proves to be the hardest and most complex one to be put out. People on the ground, machinery, including air tractors of the Protection and Rescue Directorate as well as an army helicopter have been dispatched to help the firefighting efforts, said Protection and Rescue Directorate (PRD) head Stojanche Angelov on Sunday.
He explained that after the fire broke out, the firefighting units from Resen and Bitola immediately reacted, after which the resources of the DPR were also mobilized.
According to Angelov, mild control was established last night, but due to the seriousness of the situation, additional support was requested from volunteer firefighters from Bitola, who worked all night together with professional teams, the commander of the Bitola fire department and the director of the Pelister National Park. A firebreak was also made above the pine trees with machinery to prevent the fire line from advancing.
Angelov denies the articles in certain media outlets about allegedly injured firefighters on the ground.
“So far, not a single firefighter has been injured. The news that emerged on some websites that there are two injured firefighters is not true – neither an injured firefighter, nor do we have a firefighter who inhaled smoke, so all firefighters are fine and continue to fight this fire,” Angelov pointed out.
