Belgrade, 5 August 2024 (MIA) — Serbia's Interior Ministry's Airbus Super Puma H215 helicopter with a cargo sling capacity of up to three tons of water, staffed by six members of the helicopter unit and one member of the national emergency management sector, has been fighting the Ohrid fire every day since Saturday, dropping as much as 126 tons of water only this morning by 11 am, MIA's Belgrade correspondent reports.

"Members of the helicopter unit and the Sector for Emergency Management continue to provide support to their Macedonian colleagues in the fight against the fire. Our Super Puma crew is helping put out fires near Ohrid, working 6-7 hours a day," the Serbian Interior Ministry posted on its official Instagram page.

Highlighting the firefighting efforts as an act of solidarity and help between neighbors, the post adds: "Every helicopter flight is another step toward a safe and secure environment for all of us. We are proud of our heroes in the air who work tirelessly to protect lives and property." 

Last week, at the request of the Crisis Management Center, the Serbian Interior Ministry sent an Agusta Bell 212 helicopter and six people to help extinguish several wildfires across the country, including in the municipalities of Probishtip, Sveti Nikole, and Staro Nagorichane.

Previously, in mid-July, the Serbian Interior Ministry sent its Kamov Ka-32 firefighting helicopter with a cargo sling capacity of up to five tons of water to extinguish the fires near Novo Selo and on Serta mountain in the municipalities of Negotino, Konche and Shtip. mr/