Director General of the National Civil Protection Agency Haki Çako made the statement during the annual report to the Committee on Internal Affairs and Defense.

“Throughout 2025, the Agency pursued its mission in strict alignment with the Defense Directive, focusing heavily on enhancing and modernizing Albania’s civil protection capabilities,” said Çako, emphasizing that the priority remained focused on disaster risk management, local regulatory development and the digitalization of civil emergencies.

According to him, in 2025, 2,743 wildfires swept through the country, burning an estimated 62,000 hectares of vital forests and pastures.

“Firefighting efforts mobilized over 30,000 personnel and 2,200 vehicles, alongside two Air Force helicopters that completed more than 120 missions,” Çako stated.

The head of the Agency also underlined that Albania has continued to play an active role in the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

“We have signed cooperation agreements with Italy, Greece, Sweden, and Finland and secured international assistance through the European emergency response mechanism,” he said.

In 2025, Çako said, “There was invested in 11 infrastructure developments, 42 vehicle and equipment upgrades and five dam rehabilitation initiatives to enhance safety and mitigate natural disaster risks.”

“The agency will continue its efforts to strengthen local capacities, modernize response systems and align legislation with European Union standards, in order to protect life, property and the environment,” concluded Çako. /e.xh/a.f/p.s./

Speaking to reporters after inspecting conditions near the Mifol bridge in southern Albanian region of Vlora on Thursday, Çako said that authorities had been monitoring the situation for the past 24 hours. The river level had risen to 7.1 metres, which he described as an “alert point that increases the risk”.

“We depend on the inflows coming from the Vjosa in the Tepelena and Permet areas. Monitoring has continued throughout the night,” he said.

According to Çako, rainfall had been intense both in southern Albania and across the border in Greece.

Local authorities have notified residents in areas considered at higher risk.

“Measures have been taken to assist them should evacuation become necessary. The priority is the safety of citizens, followed by property, livestock and everything else related to their normal lives,” Çako added.

He said no homes had been flooded so far, as the Vjosa remained under control in its current course. Three houses located close to the Mifol bridge have been evacuated as a precaution.

“Investments on both sides of the Vjosa have improved our ability to monitor discharges, which is why we have not yet recorded major issues,” he said.

The Defence Ministry said all local and central structures remained deployed at the Mifol bridge and on standby until the alert level drops.

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In a statement to the media, Çako said that, “Since June 15, we have been on duty to come to the aid of citizens”.

“The entire civil protection system has been on stand-by and in extraordinary readiness, such as Fire Protection and Rescue, State Police, Armed Forces, Medical Emergency, but above all the commitment of volunteers has been great and considerable”, he said.

Regarding the suspects and those arrested for arson, Çako said that, “We are in the process to consider even more severe sanctions against persons who irresponsibly or with criminal intent set fires and as a result the fires take on extraordinary proportions and create consequences whether in people’s lives in the economy, environment, etc.”

Further on, Çako said that, “These belong to the next phase and all institutions will have to take their own measures and sanctions against these persons.”

Çako stated that, “The situation is moving towards normalization.”

“The extent of this year’s fires is incomparable to other years. This is related to many factors, including global warming or even to elements that are under review by international institutions and structures that deal with risk at a global level, and we can say that the Mediterranean, which includes Albania, has begun to be a very hot area in forests and pastures,” Çako emphasized.

Head of the agency said that, “We need to start changing strategies and start preparing ourselves better in terms of technology and confrontation because in most cases the tools and techniques are urban and not rural or more precisely to protect these areas that require more investment”. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

General Director of the National Civil Protection Agency Haki Çako spoke today about the fire situation in the country.

“The operational structures at the local and central level, supported by air intervention from the Romanian team, have been engaged today in extinguishing and isolating the fires”, said Çako.

He emphasized that the fires in Tomorri mountain, Dry mountain in Prespa, Bollotek mountain and Tërnova mountain in Bulqiza, which are far from the inhabited centers, continue to be active.

“To extinguish the fires, there are engaged 275 firefighting forces, 219 military forces, 44 state police officers, 161 civil emergency structures of the local government, 52 from the administration of protected areas, 54 from the forest service, as well as and 98 volunteers”, underlined Çako.

He added that the Air Force with its troops and equipment are in full readiness.

He also invited the municipalities to cooperate with neighboring municipalities, engaging their capacities in dealing with the fires. /a.f/p.s./

General Director of the National Civil Protection Agency Haki Çako reported today on the situation of fires in the country.

According to him, the most problematic wildfires are currently in the mountainous areas, forests and pastures, far from the inhabited centers, such as in the mountain of Tomorri, Mount I Thatë in Prespa, the mountains of Bolotek and the mountain of Tërnovo in Bulqiza.

Çako said that there are engaged 320 firefighting forces, 238 military forces, 250 people from the civil emergency structures of the local government, 120 from the administration of protected areas, 187 from the forest service, as well as 130 volunteers. Meanwhile, the Romanian team is supporting the efforts from the air.

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In a television interview, Çako said that the earthquake has caused catastrophic damage, loss of human lives and damage to buildings, while the search and rescue operation is underway.

“The Albanian government, the National Agency of Civil Emergencies and the Ministry of Defense while being in intensive contact have expressed not only solidarity, but also the readiness to offer search and rescue teams. There will be doctors in the team, too,” said Çako.

He added that very soon the team will depart by a special plane.

“In a few hours, I believe they will depart for their destination. The team consists of 38 people, search and rescue specialists, doctors and nurses. We share in the great pain of the Türkiye people,” said Çako.

Earlier, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that a solidarity rescue mission will leave for Türkiye today./m.m/ /gj.m/p.s./

The agreement was signed by the general director of the National Agency of Civil Protection, Haki Çako and the rector of the Catholic University prof. Bruno Giardina.

In attendance at the signing of the agreement was also Giovanni Arcudi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, prof. Bruno Zappacosta, head of the department of Chemical-Toxicological and Pharmacological Drugs Evaluation, at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Klajdi Nikolla, director of International Cooperation and Projects at National Civil Protection Agency.

The agreement on cooperation between the two institutions aimed at strengthening the civil protection system, focusing on health aspects in emergency situations as well as implementing the primary mission of National Civil Protection Agency to protect the life of the population. //a.i/

But, despite the work done today, due to atmospheric conditions, there is a risk for the spread of the fire.

General Director of the National Agency of Civil Protection Haki Çako, said today that, “As a result of intensive work it has been managed the fire to be brought under control”.

Çako said that this is an operation, which will continue tomorrow.

“Numerous forces have been engaged. Today, we have engaged over 150 forces. But, on Saturday we will engage again increased forces, which will enable the siege of the entire perimeter of the fire to prevent damage”, said Çako.

He stressed that, “The operation with the Dutch Chinooke helicopters and the Dutch pilots has been followed throughout the day. They should be thanked for all the sacrifice and contribution they have made throughout the day. About 250 thousand liters of water have been used for a period of relatively 2-3 hours, during the afternoon, but will continue during the next day while the capacities of our Dutch partners have also increased.”

“Today, it became possible the arrival of another additional helicopter, which entered into action immediately after arriving in Rinas”, said Çako.

Çako appealed to the citizens to inform the authorities about the fires./j.p/p.s./

In a statement to the media, National Agency for Civil Protection expressed grateful thanks to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, USAID, the Kosovo KSF and all the on-site teams for the support provided to fight fire day and night.

​ Firefighting helicopters with a crew of 50 people from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, made available through European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, arrived in Albania 4 days ago to support Albanian teams to fight the forest fires. //a.i/

He added that if the intensity of the fire increases, there will also be evacuation of the local residents.

Speaking to reporters, Çako said that in Laku i Thive, but also in Karaburun of Vlora, helicopters and all structures from the ground have intervened to keep the fires under control.

“The operation with the Dutch helicopter continues in Karaburun, of course an extraordinary work was done yesterday, but it happens a bit like the legend of Rozafa. As soon as we have finished work, suddenly a fire breaks out again and that can be no other, but a criminal initiative”, said Çako regarding the situation with the fires in the south.

“Strong initiatives should be taken to change the legal sanctions against arsonists, whether for economic purposes, but especially for terrorist purposes,” he said.

“It is such a big area that it is difficult to supervise all the forests. The terrain is known better by residents and even more so by those with criminal tendencies who are paid by certain circles or have other criminal initiatives “, said Çako.

Regarding the fire on the Kalimashi tunnel, Çako said that, “The conclusion belongs to the investigation. I believe that the judiciary, police structures, law enforcement agencies are working hard and investigating the work to bring to an end the information available in all cases. We are in contact with the local police structures and expect the responsible persons will be brought to justice “.

Regarding the cooperation with the forces arrived from Kosovo, Çako said that they are cooperating closely.

“I take this opportunity to thank them for their willingness and support. I am convinced that their contribution will be rewarded together with the contribution of hundreds of thousands of other employees of the civil protection system in Albania who have been fighting the flames for days,” he said./p.s./