Kumanovo, 30 July 2024 (MIA) – The wildfire in Malotino and Zhegljane in Staro Nagorichane municipality, northeast North Macedonia, is still active. The fires that broke out yesterday around noon near Kokoshinje, Kshanhe and Murgash are also still burning, Crisis Management Center Director Stojanche Angelov said Tuesday.

The fire burning bushes and grass is being put out with helicopters. Boban Cvetanovski, deputy mayor of the Municipality of Staro Nagorichane, said the fire-hit land is inaccessible.

He stated that houses had burned but the exact number was yet to be determined.

Local firefighters, members of the National Forests company staff are at the site. Firefighting unit commander Dalibor Trajkovski concurred that the fire was burning an unreachable land. 

The Kumanovo regional crisis management center said a fire in Rugjnce has also burned down houses. 

Kumanovo firemen for almost two days have been battling a large fire between the villages of Kokoshinje and Kshanje. A man died of smoke inhalation, while his wife was successfully evacuated.

Eleven fires broke out yesterday, said Kumanovo firefighting unit commander Dejan Ilievski. 

“Yesterday was a pretty busy day with 11 fires registered in the Municipality of Kumanovo and one victim in Kokoshinje village. The fire over Kokoshinje is still active in an inaccessible terrain. It cannot be reached either by car or on foot,” Ilievski stated adding that houses were also destroyed, but the exact number should be determined additionally.  

Photo: MIA