85 Attempt to Tame Bulgaria's Rila Mountain Wildfire by Hand

A wildfire is blazing for many days now, right above the historical Bulgarian Rila monastery. Photo by BGNES

Eighty five people are trying Sunday put out by hand a wildfire in the "Beli Bor" (White Pine) site in Rila Mountain.

The information was reported by the spokesperson of the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in the southwestern city of Kyustendil.

The fire rescue effort is focusing on the northern area of the site. The water is delivered by horses.

In the southern end the fire has been tamed.

Helicopters are not being used currently and the extinguishing is done by hand because the terrain is extremely difficult to access.

The fire started on August 23 at an altitude of 2 300 meters, right above the historical Rila monastery. The monastery is not in danger, according to authorities.

An estimated over 1 500 decares of vegetation have been affected, of them 150 decares of pine forest.

Over 300 active wildfires have been extinguished in the country Saturday, the Interior Ministry's press office reports.

The large number of blazes in Bulgaria is attributed to the summer heat and draught, and to human recklessness.

The main Directorate Fire Safety of the Population stresses that at many locations people are setting yards and stubble-fields on fire to clean them, which creates additional dangers of blazes.

The Directorate is asking local mayors to educate residents of small towns and villages about the harmful consequences of their actions.

Setting stubble-fields on fire, causing wildfires, is illegal in Bulgaria.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!