Skopje, 5 August 2021 (MIA) – At the moment, 18 wildfires are active in the Skopje region with three posing serious threat in Kichkovo toward Gorno Svilare, between Dobri Dol and Rakotinci in Sopishte, and in Gorno Blace. Seven wildfires were reported in less than an hour, Crisis Management Center (CMC) Director Stojanche Angelov said noting the situation is deteriorated due to high temperature and strong wind, which hinder efforts to extinguish them. Speaking at a news conference Thursday alongside his associates, Angelov said that nearly 300 soldiers have been dispatched to the sites hit by fires and that all resources have been put at disposal. According to Goran Stojanovski of CMC, 20 to 30 minutes after a report is made, assistance is sent following a request of the fire brigade or the municipality. However, he noted, priorities must be set because of utmost importance is to save lives and homes, which means fields and low-stemmed forests come in second. “From now on, we’re making priorities. We expect the wind to turn stronger and to become harder to battle the blazes, but we’re not using hope. We’re on the ground using all resources at disposal,” he said adding that another 500 soldiers might be dispatched. Wildfires, at total of 18, in the region of Delchevo and Pehchevo, Kumanovo, and Prilep, still pose threat to the public and livelihoods, according to latest information. Angelov called on people to evacuate in the event coming across a wildfire. “The situation changes by the minute, dry vegetation, high temperature and the wind contributed to existing fires to spread quickly and to new outbreaks,” he told reporters.