The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has granted Bulgaria $50 000 to buy firefighting equipment.

US embassy deputy chief of mission Alexander Karagiannis said on August 1 that Bulgaria was in a disastrous situation after the fires that affected the whole country.

High temperatures, strong winds and drought helped the fire spread on large territories, Focus news agency reported.

Since July 20, fire brigades have fought nearly 2000 fires. The fires destroyed more than 568 000 acres of forest, parks and agricultural land.

Bulgaria’s civil protection agency said that one man had died and nine were injured during the fires.

USAID is monitoring the situation in South Eastern Europe closely and will provide additional help if needed.