Skopje, 10 September 2025 (MIA) -- Despite firefighting efforts to contain the Drisla landfill fire overnight, using water has not helped and the Skopje Fire Department has had to resort to throwing dirt at the center of the fire to smother the highest flames, Protection and Rescue Directorate head Stojanche Angelov said Wednesday. 

The piles of garbage on fire have sent toxic fumes billowing into the city.

According to Angelov in a video taken near Drisla, the firefighters were ordeed to smother the fire and stop the smoke by the evening. The order was issued in line with the national state of emergency amid ongoing wildfire risks, he said.

He voiced suspicions of arson, saying that there had been no spontaneous combustion at Drisla in the heat of summer. "Yet now when night temperatures are lower than in July, there was 'a spontaneous combustion' at this landfill," Angelov said.

Spontaneous combustion can occur at landfills when heat generated by the biological decomposition and chemical oxidation reaches the waste's autoignition temperature.

Regarding the fire still burning at the Vardarishte illegal landfill, Angelov said there were several hot spots at the landfill being monitored daily.

He said charges had been filed against three persons who were suspected of starting the blaze at the landfill while trying to burn insulation off scrap metal.

The Vardarishte landfill fire has been burning for over 10 days. According to Angelov, the government was asked to impose a ban on movement in the area.

The Drisla landfill fire broke out at 3:15 pm Tuesday. Seven firefighters from the Skopje Fire Department have been battling the flames, which are not near any woods or neighborhoods, the Crisis Management Center said. mr/