TIRANA, Aug 11 /ATA/ – By I.Vata/- After 2 weeks of battling the blazes all across the country, the situation has abated on Wednesday. 175 fires have been put out countrywide, yet there are 9 hotspots.
The Ministry of Defence reports that these operations have engaged about 3 thousand members of the Armed Forces, about 150 vehicles of the Armed Forces, about 300 police forces, about 1800 firefighting forces, over 370 vehicles of Fire Protection and Rescue Service, 20 ambulances, over 1 thousand municipality crews, over 300 forest service employees, 101 employees of the Agency of Protected Areas and 822 volunteers.
The air fire-fighting operation was carried out by the crews of 7 helicopters from Albania, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The US assistance has been crucial in extinguishing the fires.
Also the Ministry of Defense reports that there are no raging fires on Karaburun peninsula, but the work is ongoing in Dukat i Ri through air and ground firefighting operations to contain the blaze.
The fire situation has eased off even in Mirdita, where the work is ongoing to contain the flames in the village of Thirrë. The blazes in the village of Munellë and Domgjon have been brought under control. The firefighting operation is ongoing to contain the flames on Mount Rruna, the administrative unit of Malzi. The situation does not threaten the tunnel of Kalimash.
Some blazes at the place called Dragodi, in Valbona Valley of Tropoja have been brought under control.
The fires heading towards the village of Patalej in Lezha have been contained. The work is ongoing to put out the blaze in Protected Area at Guri i Nikës in Pogradec, which does not pose any danger to the residential areas. Meanwhile the fires in Mount Tomorr and the village of Therepel in Skrapar have been contained.
At a media briefing from Vlora, Minister of Defense , Niko Peleshi, said that we can say that today there are almost zero blazes.
“I want to use this moment of breathing, because we have many scorching days ahead, we are at the peak of summer, which this year has been like no other, so anything can happen. We are prepared and ready to respond, everywhere here and throughout Albania to potential situations. But in this moment of breath I want to express my gratitude and thanks,” he said.
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