Albania continues to face during the weekend at least 10 strong fires in its high mountains throughout the territory; such as Mount Tomorri, Mount Dry and Mount Tërnova. A range of military and local government forces are trying to put out the fires from the ground and from the air. The authorities have engaged over 900 soldiers, policemen, volunteers and firefighters, while two airplanes from Romania have come to help with the relevant teams to keep the situation under control.
In Albania, the central and local authorities have extinguished several dozen large and small fires throughout the territory, where 44 fires were recorded.
The general director of the National Civil Protection Agency, Haki Čako, told the media today that more than 900 troops were engaged in extinguishing and isolating the fires throughout the country, assisted by Romanian teams with two planes.
During the last 24 hours, 44 fires were recorded in different areas of the country, of which 34 were completely extinguished and brought under control. An extraordinary work was done by the firefighters and other structures in the situation created in Dushkarak and Rexhepaj of Selenica municipality, in Cerilë of Mallakastra, where the danger was extraordinary”. said Mr. Chako.
In addition to the Albanian Air Force, these efforts were joined by two planes from Romania with the respective teams specialized in fighting fires from the air, while hundreds of firefighters, soldiers, police, volunteers, forest service and civil defense were involved from the ground.
A day ago, 29 fires were reported in Albania, of which 15 were extinguished, while fires continued to be active in Tomorr, Prespa, and Bulqiza. In addition to extinguishing the fires, the police have continued working to arrest their perpetrators, who have endangered the lives of citizens, properties, the environment and historical cultural values in some territories.
“Meanwhile, 10 other fires remain active, but are under continuous monitoring from operational structures. The fires continue to be active in Tomorri Mountain, Dry Mountain in Prespa, Bjeshke Bolotek and Tërnova Mountain in Bulqiza, which are far from the inhabited centers and where the structures are working hard”said Mr. Chako.
The authorities estimate that most of the fires in residential areas are the result of irresponsible acts of farmers by lighting and not managing fires, in addition to cases with criminal intent.
A multitude of fires start every year this season in Albania from Tropoja, Shkodra, Dibra, Lezha, to Vlorë, Skrapar and Dropull, the uniqueness of which is not only their great power helped by high temperatures and wind, but also the extremely difficult mountainous terrain, which makes it impossible to extinguish them with ground vehicles.
