Skopje, 17 August 2025 (MIA) - Protection and Rescue Directorate (PRD) head Stojanche Angelov said ten wildfires were registered on Sunday. The fire at the Jasen National Park is still burning, and a portion of the fire in the village of Jazhince, in the municipality of Jegunovce, has reignited. Two active fires are reported in the municipality of Lipkovo, in the villages of Lojane and Slupchane, where firefighters from the Kumanovo Fire Brigade are battling the blaze. Another active fire is reported in the municipality of Lozovo, with firefighters from the Veles Fire Brigade on the ground, according to Angelov. 

"During the night, we prevented the fire in Jasen from spreading across a forest road, which would have further threatened the village of Breznica. Thanks to the intervention of members of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), as well as several firefighters from Makedonski Brod and Jasen staff, that portion of the fire was quenched, thus establishing full control of one of three portions of this fire," Angelov said providing a statement on the ground. 

The PRD head noted that members of the army special units nicknamed "Wolves" and "Rangers" joined in extinguishing a second portion of the fire in Jasen early on Sunday, with aerial assistance by two firefighting planes of the PRD. At this moment, he added, partial control has been established, and it will not threaten another forest.

"A third portion of the fire, spreading towards Lake Kozjak, poses the biggest problem for us, and we expect that we will be able to prevent it from spreading further when it reaches a rocky area, on a ridge, with the help of army special units," said Angelov. 

He noted that a portion of the fire near the village of Jazhince in the municipality of Jegunovce has reignited after being put under control. 

"The fire is spreading towards the village of Dolno Orashje and the village of Radusha. Firefighters from the Skopje Fire Brigade are on the ground and an army helicopter will soon take off to join in," Angelov said. 

Angelov appealed to citizens, farmers and livestock breeders to exercise caution in the coming period.

Photo: PRD video print screen