Sofia, 12 August 2021 (MIA) – The first group of Bulgarian firefighters who were sent to assist in firefighting efforts in North Macedonia has returned home. The Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported that 25 firefighters are back in Blagoevgrad and Smolyan. For the past week they took part in fire extinguishing efforts using three fire engines. Bulgaria, MIA reports from Sofia, sent firefighters to North Macedonia on August 4, when the fire was approaching the Bulgarian border. “The head of the Blagoevgrad fire department, Georgi Parmakov, said that fires were raging at large when the team departed for Delchevo and Pehchevo. They took part in activities at the village of Chiflik, before quickly heading towards Istevnik the next day, as a result of the spreading fire. There they worked with Macedonian colleagues to prevent the fire from spreading towards and houses. Firefighters from Austria and Slovenia also took part in fire extinguishing efforts,” BNT underlined. According to BNT, 27 Bulgarian firefighters have remained in North Macedonia to continue fighting fires until they are completely put out. The Bulgarian government issued an order to help North Macedonia combat fires at the beginning of August.