The Spanish government has joined in the efforts to fight the fire that has been burning since September 3 in Rila National Park by sending two Canadair aircraft on September 9. They joined the two French airtankers on September 10, and have been dumping water over the fire on the side of Rila Mountain near Samokov, which started burning on September 7.

The Spanish team consists of 11 people. Until noon on September 9, the water bombers had poured water over the fire near Samokov 10 times, thus bringing it under control, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said. The firefighting teams will try to totally extinguish the flames.

The aircraft also twice flew two over the fire in Rila National Park. Ministry of Emergency Situations – Blagoevgrad regional director Petar Samardjiev said that the fire was totally under control and none of its four fronts had been allowed to spread Further. More than 300 people were working there on September 9, and in the afternoon water was poured over the fire again. It had burned about 140ha of woods so far, the ministry said.

Blagoevgrad forces organised buses for volunteers on September 10, to act as support for the firefighters.

While local and foreign firefighters have been trying to overcome the circumstances in the steep inclines of Rila National Park, between September 11 and 13, the Interior Ministry is organising the IV World Championship of Firefighters and Rescuers Sofia 2008. The championships was not going to be re-scheduled due to the emergency situation in Rila, an Interior Ministry spokesperson told The Sofia Echo on September 10.

During the championships, 150 firefighters from 15 countries will compete under the auspices of Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev. Anyone can attend the event, which will take place at Vassil Levski Stadium in Sofia.