Bulgaria Closes Fire Rescue Mission in Greece's Holy Mountain
Environment | August 14, 2012, Tuesday // 12:21| views
A large wildfire erupted on August 8 in the hearth of the Holy Mountain, threatening its 20 historical Christian Orthodox monasteries. Photo by BGNES
The mission of the Bulgarian firefighters, who helped in the extinguishing effort of the huge wildfire in Aton, Greece, is officially ending Tuesday.
The two teams are expected at the Kulata cross border checkpoint between Bulgaria and Greece around 6 pm. They will be greeted and welcomed by fire rescue chiefs from the southwestern Blagoevgrad region.
The fire erupted in the hearth of the Holy Mountain, threatening its 20 historical Christian Orthodox monasteries, on Wednesday, August 8.
On August 11, on the order of Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, two teams of 10 Bulgarian firemen each from the southwestern city of Blagoevgrad and the town of Bansko were sent to the Holy Mountain to protect the monasteries and assist the monks, in particular the Bulgarian Zograph monastery.
The Bulgarian group comprised 18 forest rangers as well. The group traveled on two specially equipped modern vehicles.
On Monday, the Bulgarian fire rescue teams inspected the Zograph monastery, checked its electrical installations and emergency fire equipment and did not find any hazardous conditions.
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