The cause and the size of the forest fire that started on September 3 in Rila National Park are still not clear, Rossen Popsavov from the State Forestry Agency told a news conference on September 5. Sofia spokespersons from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) could not confirm when the fire first erupted.
The Ministry of Environment and Water Affairs (MOEW) said in a media statement that the fire started on September 3 at approximately 5pm, about 30km from Blagoevgrad. Initially, it enveloped 15 ha grass and bushes but on September 4 spread to the coniferous forest due to strong winds. On September 5 the fire was still burning over 12 ha of woods, MOEW said.
MES regional office director Petur Samardjiev said that about 30ha of coniferous woods were on fire on September 5, as well as more than 100ha of broad-leafed forests and bushes. MES teams were working with wood cutting machines to forge corridors between the woods.
Fire fighters, employees from Rila national park, Blagoevgrad’s Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters and from Blagoevgrad’s water-basin directorate as well as local state forestry employees were fighting the fire. On September 5 local police and representatives from the local service for protection of the population from disasters and emergency situations joined the effort.
A crisis headquarters is expected to be set up in Blagoevgrad to co-ordinate activities in Rila National Park, MES said.
Comments by Pete - 17:52 05 Sep 2008 |
 | The Bulgarian mafia strikes again. The organized crime groups with interests in building new hotels in Rila are clearing the lots for new construction. It is sad but Bulgaria become the biggest conglomerate between the mafia and the state. |  |
Comments by peter - 23:51 05 Sep 2008 |
| Could it maybe be that someone threw is cigarret somewhere where he shouldn't? I notice that nobody gives a shit about that, everybody does just what he or she like and doesn't really care about the environment. | |
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| The Bulgarian authorities are not really prepared to cope with such disasters. If such fires are started as, for example in Greece, the whole of Bulgaria will burn and nobody will be able to do anything. In fact, this is the pathetic picture that we can see in Rila. The people of this country must take things seriously. There are evil, dark forces that are already working towards ruining the country beyond recognition. Apart from fires, there are all kinds of groups constantly and indiscriminately cutting trees everywhere in the forests of Bulgaria and not checks what they are doing. Who gives them the right to cut and sell the trees of Bulgaria that took many years to grow. In the absence of responsible authorities, people must create citizens' watch groups in their areas and watch and report such criminal acts. Its nature and forests are the beauty of Bulgaria. Wild life has already practically disappeared because of the murderous culture of hunting. People must protect their forests and help wild life to make a come back. Nobody has the right to cut trees from public forests. Trees do not belong to anybody, except God and Bulgaria. | |
