Bulgarian Crews Battle High Altitude Fire in Rila National Park

Jerusalem, 8 September, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Blagoevgrad (BTA) – About 70 people are working on the ground today to control the fire in the territory of the Rila National Park in western Bulgaria — firefighters, park employees, as well as colleagues from the Simitli State Forestry Department (SFS). This was told to BTA by the director of the Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection (RDFPP) in Blagoevgrad, Commissioner Valentin Vassilev.

He added that the fire is at an altitude of between 1,700 and 2,000 meters. On one front, where work is being done, the extinguishing line is over a kilometer long, and water is provided, which is supplied from the mountain ridge. Today, there will be no use of aircraft, Commissioner Vassilev also said.

Two days ago, a Mi-17 helicopter with a crew from the 24th Air Base of the Air Force again joined in extinguishing the fire.

The fire broke out a few days ago in Rila, in the area of ​​the Simitli village of Dolno Osenovo.