Skopje, 31 July 2024 (MIA) — Out of the total of 66 wildfires burning on Tuesday across the country, 51 were extinguished, three were localized, and 12 fires are still burning on Wednesday, according tho the Crisis Management Center head Stojanche Angelov.

In a video statement, Angelov said landfills should not be underestimated as fire hazards. He pointed out that a landfill in Dojran caught on fire Thursday and spread to houses nearby. A tragedy was averted, he said, and although the fire was still burning, it did not put the local population in danger.

Angelov also urged locals not to gather and battle the blazes on their own.

"As a country, we have enough army members and police," he said. "If the local authorities in charge of extinguishing the fires – the mayors – ask for it, we can send as many army or police as they ask for." 

"Civilians cannot help everywhere," he continued. "On the contrary, they can get in the way of the professionals, the firefighters, the army, the police, the National Forests staff, the volunteer firefighters or even the aircraft themselves." 

"Civilians can help in defending settlements when a fire threatens a village or, as in last night's case, when there was a minor possibility the fire could reach the town of Pehchevo," Angelov said, adding: "Civilians should not take part in extinguishing fires unless they are accepted by the local firefighting department commanders."

At a CMC steering committee session held earlier on Wednesday, Angelov said, a decision was made to propose to the government to ask for NATO assistance.

Much like the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, he said, the NATO assistance would provide experienced firefighters, if needed, to help contain the spread of the fires.

"At the moment, we don't have this need, but it may appear as the day goes on. We have enough firefighters at the moment," Angelov said.

He said currently the largest wildfires were near Pehchevo, near Staro Nagorichane, near Kratovo, near Makedonski Brod, and near Sveti Nikole.

Earlier, the CMC announced that international aid was being provided through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, including a Agusta-Bell 212 firefighting helicopter from Serbia, which arrived this morning, and a Black Hawk helicopter from the Czech Republic as well as two Air Tractor from Germany, expected to arrive soon. mr/