Skopje, 4 August 2021 (MIA) – Crisis Management Center head Stojanche Angelov said Wednesday that the commander of the escadrille of five helicopters ordered them to retreat due to the extremely high temperature as soon as they arrived in the Pehchevo region, hit by a large wildfire. The firefighting helicopters will embark toward Pehchevo as soon as air temperature drops by a few degrees, Angelov wrote on Facebook. “Safety of the crew and safety of the people is top priority,” he said. At the moment, 10 wildfires are active across the country with few posing serious threat, Angelov stated speaking to Kanal 5 TV. Bulgaria is expected to send firefighters and vehicles and Greece and Slovenia have been asked to send firefighting planes. “The situation is alarming in the Municipality of Makedonski Brod. The fire brigade, police and the army are at the site. The wind changed direction causing the fire to spread near one of the villages. A large wildfire is also spreading from Pehchevo to the Municipality of Berovo. The two army helicopters will fly there once temperature drops slightly,” said Angelov, who is acting director of the Crisis Management Center. Asked to comment on growing calls for his resignation after reportedly mismanaging firefighting efforts in Kochani on Monday, he said that all necessary measures had been taken. “With utmost responsibility, I’m saying that all measures were taken, all the capacities at disposal were used that day. Not only I didn’t fail, but I am very proud of what we did in Kochani,” he stressed.