SOFIA/PLOVDIV/VELIKO TARNOVO – The first helicopter under the EU support mechanism has landed in Plovdiv, as announced by Deputy Minister of Interior Toni Todorov on Sunday. This aircraft is part of the response to combat fires in Bulgaria, with a total of four helicopters and two planes anticipated.
The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office is set to indict the individual responsible for a forest fire between two neighborhoods in Veliko Tarnovo, according to a briefing by district prosecutor Hristo Hristov. The fire, which broke out late Saturday night between the “Buzludzha” and “Cholakovtsi” neighborhoods, took nearly four hours to extinguish. Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Daniel Panov stated on social media that the fire was deliberately set and shared a video of a man using a lighter to ignite vegetation. The suspect has been detained for up to 24 hours, and a pre-trial procedure has begun, as clarified by Senior Commissioner Dimitur Mashov of the Regional Directorate of Police.
The District Prosecutor’s Office of Veliko Tarnovo has classified the incident as an intentionally set forest fire intended to incite panic among citizens. The offense is categorized under Article 108A of the Penal Code related to terrorism, with penalties ranging from five to 15 years in prison. The fire resulted in the destruction of 30 decares of forest land.
The recent days have posed a significant challenge for the country, remarked Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov on Facebook.
In just one day, the “Fire Safety and Population Protection” team recorded 269 fires amidst extremely high temperatures—around and exceeding 40 degrees—and strong winds. The primary causes were identified as human negligence and, in some instances, intentional actions, necessitating stern measures and strict enforcement of the law, according to the Minister of Interior.
Currently, there are four active large fires requiring substantial human, technical, and aerial resources. The most critical of these is above the village of Ilindenzi, where a “Cougar” helicopter from the Bulgarian Air Force is operational, along with aerial teams from Slovakia and Hungary.
On Sunday, three crews arrived from France, Slovakia, and Hungary, noted Deputy Minister of Interior Toni Todorov. Additionally, Romania dispatched a “Black Hawk” helicopter to Bulgaria to assist in firefighting efforts, as reported by the Romanian Emergency Situations Department to BTA. This helicopter took off on Monday morning from an airbase in Bucharest for its first mission abroad. The duration of this mission remains uncertain, but Romania has responded to the Bulgarian authorities’ request through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, clarified spokesperson Bogdan Toma from the Emergency Situations Department to BTA.
In the face of both Bulgarian firefighters and international teams, we witness the true essence of duty, professionalism, and European solidarity in action, added Daniel Mitov on Facebook. He expressed heartfelt thanks to all Bulgarian firefighters, volunteers, and military personnel for their professionalism, dedication, and resilience. We also extend our gratitude to our European partners for their swift response and demonstrated solidarity, Mitov concluded. (July 27-28)
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