North Macedonia fights against forest fires

Extreme heat and dryness - North Macedonia fights against forest fires

North Macedonia has been fighting against forest and bush fires with international aid for several days. During drought, wind, and extreme heat around 40 degrees in the shade, they keep reoccurring in the mountains. On Wednesday, Romania joined the efforts with two aircraft, one of which dropped five-tonne water bombs, according to North Macedonia's Disaster Management Chief, Stojance Angelov, as reported by the Internet newspaper "mkd.mk".

Moreover, the border crossing to Greece at Bogorodica has been closed due to a bushfire on the Greek side in Evzoni.

Currently, the efforts are focused on the area around the southeastern town of Radovis and near Gevgelija close to the Greek border, Angelov added. Twelve firefighting vehicles and a helicopter are in use in Greek Evzoni, according to the local fire department.

In North Macedonia, the eastern part of the country has been mainly affected by several dozens of vegetation fires so far. Besides Romanian aid, teams from Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Croatia have come to help with the extinguishing, mainly with helicopters.

In times of drought, a heatwave can contribute to forest fires growing more intense and larger within short periods, making extinguishing more difficult. Vegetation dries out faster in heat, and soil moisture disappears more quickly. The forest fire risk is increasing according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in the context of global warming.

1. The dryness in the North Macedonian mountains has been exacerbated by the current climatic conditions, contributing to the frequency and intensity of the bushfires.
2. The Umwelt in the affected regions is under threat due to the prolonged forest fires, with smoke affecting the air quality and wildlife habitats.
3. Greece has also been battling bushfires, specifically in Evzoni, which has led to the temporary closure of the border crossing at Bogorodica.
4. The Bushfire in Evzoni has required the deployment of twelve firefighting vehicles and a helicopter from the local fire department.
5. Skopje, the capital city of North Macedonia, has not been directly impacted by the bushfires, but the smoke has caused concerns about air pollution.
6. Romania's efforts to combat forest fires are not limited to North Macedonia; they have also been providing aid to neighboring countries like Romania, which has experienced its own bushfire challenges.
7. The North Macedonian government, along with international partners, is urging residents to take precautions during the Extremities of the weather, such as avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day and ensuring all outdoor fires are properly extinguished.

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