Ohrid, 5 August 2024 (MIA) – Since early Monday morning, two helicopters have been deployed to the fire-stricken areas north of Ohrid, using water from the lake to fight wildfires near the villages of Kosel and Openica.

On Sunday, firefighting efforts were supported by aerial operations all day long, involving both helicopters and three Air Tractor aircraft.

Teams from the territorial firefighting unit, municipal public enterprises, the public enterprise “Macedonian Forests” and local population are also deployed on the ground to try to control the wildfires.

Ohrid Mayor Kiril Pecakov expects the wildfire above Kosel village to be put out today.

“Thanks to the extensive firefighting operations on the ground and in the air, the situation with the wildfire in the Ohrid area is currently good. We need to either finish extinguishing it or bring it entirely under control today,” Pecakov said.

The Crisis Management Center has reported that firefighting operations were conducted Sunday in the Ilinska mountain and at four critical points along the stretch covering the villages of Kosel, Rasino, Openica, and Vapila.

Photo: Ohrid territorial firefighting unit