Kochani, 2 August 2021 (MIA) – Houses, auxiliary premises and vehicles, including a firefighting vehicle, were damaged after being caught by wildfire breaking out in two locations in Kochani. It came dangerously close to homes overlooking the city in eastern North Macedonia. Some dozen people went to the hospital after experiencing difficulties breathing, but no one has been severely injured, MIA’s Kochani correspondent reports. Local residents are trying to prevent the wildfire from spreading due to strong winds towards a Makpetrol warehouse and a private gas station, the correspondent reports. Teams of the Kochani firefighting brigade have responded to the fire and they are also aided by firefighters from neighboring municipalities. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski left the Ilinden central ceremony in Krushevo early after receiving reports about the sweeping wildfire near Kochani. Zaev is in contact with the Crisis Management Center, local authorities and the police, the government confirmed to MIA. Also, a wildfire broke out near mountainous villages. The inaccessible terrain is hindering efforts to localize the fire cause by a fallen overhead power line. President and Supreme Commander Stevo Pendarovski has issued an order to help local authorities put out wildfires breaking out in parts of the country. He said he issued at 4:30 pm an order in his capacity as Supreme Commander on army engagement and approving helicopters to be used. The helicopters earlier in the day put out blazes in Kumanovo’s Staro Nagorichane and they will be deployed early tomorrow morning in Kochani as they are not equipped to fly at night, explained Pendarovski.