Expanding Bulgarian Wildfire Threatens Pirin National Park

Jerusalem, 11 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Ilindentsi (BTA) – The fire in Bulgaria’s Ilindentsi region has expanded its front, the director of the State Forestry Agency-Strumiani Ivan Rizov told BTA. He reported that the fire is growing in the direction of Pirin National Park.

Currently, the teams in southwestern Bulgaria are concentrated in the area of the village of Ilindentsi, Strumyani municipality, and in the Pirin Mountains, above Sandanski. The area of Ilindentsi is relatively calm, according to Rizov, with one active outbreak being treated. Several outbreaks are active above Sandanski. The fire is currently low-level.

The director of the forestry explained that there is heavy smoke, which is due to the burning low vegetation, mainly juniper and grasses. We will do everything possible to keep things from getting out of control. I think we will be able to localize the fire. It is not known how long internal fires will last. Due to the high temperatures and wind, they often resume, commented Ivan Rizov.

He also said that in addition to foresters, firefighters and the military, all volunteer formations from the region were involved in extinguishing the fire.

Earlier today, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov , Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection (RSPBZN), told BTA that two Swedish planes and an Air Force helicopter will also be involved in controlling the fire over Ilindentsi. Part of the fire there resumed yesterday due to high temperatures and wind.