No risk of fire spreading to settlements, Interior Minister says

The fire situation in the Blagoevgrad region remains serious. Despite the hot and windy weather, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said that so far there was no danger of the flames reaching the settlements. Aircraft from France are still involved in fighting the fire near Blagoevgrad today, while helicopters from the Bulgarian army have joined the efforts to extinguish the fire in the Slavyanka mountain, near the border with Greece.

By the end of the day, it should be clear whether more fire-fighting aircraft will join them under the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

Minister Stoyanov believes that firefighting equipment, including aircraft, should be part of the Interior Ministry and under the control of the General Directorate for Fire and Emergency Safety, rather than the army.

According to Stoyanov, procedures in the Interior Ministry are faster, and firefighting is the direct responsibility of the General Directorate for Fire Protection, while the Defence Ministry "only provides assistance", as in this case.