The fires in the Vadhiza area remained active and spread rapidly towards Levan and the Peshtan i Vogël area, fuelled by strong winds and high temperatures.

Several homes, a warehouse producing beehives and a business were damaged, local media reported. In the Qafa e Koshovicës area, flames approached several restaurants and an unoccupied house caught fire.

Firefighters from Fier, Mallakaster, Lushnja, Vlora and Berat were deployed alongside police and emergency services. Two helicopters were also used to tackle the most difficult hotspots, while ground crews continued efforts to contain the flames.

The fire also reached the Fier-Levan national road, temporarily disrupting traffic because of dense smoke and the risk to motorists.

About 15 families were evacuated as flames approached residential areas, with police monitoring threatened zones and assisting residents, authorities said.

Health teams were also placed on full alert. Nine doctors and nurses from the Levan Health Centre and two ambulances staffed by medical personnel from Fier Regional Hospital were deployed to the area, the Health and Social Welfare Ministry said.

Three people had so far been treated for symptoms of smoke inhalation, Health Ministry said. Medical authorities had also coordinated with Fier Memorial Hospital to ensure rapid specialised treatment in case of cardiac emergencies.

Firefighting and emergency teams remained deployed as strong winds continued to hamper efforts to bring the fires under control.

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Speaking at a news conference, Berisha said fires remained a serious problem nationwide and that firefighters had yet to receive promised additional payments for the difficulties and risks associated with their work.

“The treatment of firefighters and workers engaged in fighting the fires is cynical and heartless. They have received not a penny of the promised allowances, which they deserve for the great difficulties they face in fighting the fires,” he said.

Berisha also criticised what he described as a lack of logistical support for personnel working on the ground, calling their work “extremely difficult and dangerous”.

“They have no logistical support whatsoever for the extremely difficult and dangerous work they do,” he said.

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In a social media post, Rama said the emergency crews had successfully faced a “daunting challenge,” battling fires continuously across Kruja, Kamza, Tirana and Vora during a period of intense summer heat.

“Only one isolated fire front on the summit of Mount Kruja remains active, but the countless messages of thanks and congratulations from residents remain a source of pride and motivation for our forces,” Rama said.

He also shared a message from a Kruja resident living in Belgium, who thanked the government for its aerial firefighting support and the efforts of local firefighters.

The resident said authorities and firefighters had done everything possible to extinguish what he described as an unprecedented fire.

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Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi said during a briefing after the government meeting that this decision fulfills the Prime Minister’s public promise to evaluate the work of emergency management forces.

According to the minister, the fire situation during this year has been successfully managed thanks to coordination between the relevant institutions. He said that so far, there have been extinguished or brought under control over 27 massive fires in areas such as Fieri, Driza, Fushë-Arrëzi, Kurbini, Lezha and others.

Nufi said that over 1,380 personnel, 90 vehicles and five helicopters are battling the fires.

Nufi appreciated that during the current year there have been engaged greater capacities in dealing with the fires.

The minister added that currently Narta fire has caused the most problematic situation. There have been engaged over 120 forces on the ground, as well as two helicopters that are intervening from the air to isolate and extinguish the flames. According to him, 90 vehicles and 5 helicopters are on standby to extinguish the fires. /m.q/a.f/p.s./

Rama attended the National Gratitude Ceremony organized to award medals to all the forces engaged in fire rescue operations.

The prime minister said that he bows with respect to all those who fought the fires.

“We are here to bow with respect to you and all those you represent here. The fire battle that engulfed significant territories of the country in the last two months was a long chronicle of fever, wounds and pain. It was a dramatic chronicle but with notes of exhaustion, dedication and culminating moments of human heroism that honour your uniforms and, thanks to you, honour the Albanian state, exalt our republic,” said Rama, among other things.

The prime minister emphasized that it was such a situation that the fires got out of control and almost desperately threatened residential centers.

“Black Hawk helicopters are supplied with water in lakes completely under smoke. Even birds couldn’t get out of that cauldron of fire and flew along with the helicopters, a consequence that could have been fatal for the aircraft”, Rama added, reviewing the situation.

Meanwhile, the prime minister praised that, “The army and fire brigade troops took every possible and imaginable initiative, putting their lives at risk while working with great dedication to save the city”. /p.s./

In a post in the social media, Rama shared footage from the work of the troops engaged in extinguishing the fires that have engulfed several areas of the country in recent days.

“Grateful thanks and high estimation to the firefighters, army forces, police, volunteers and residents who are facing the flames, putting their lives at risk to protect people, homes and our nature”, emphasized Rama.

PM Rama said that, “Those who deliberately start fires, destroy property and endanger lives, in this difficult time of global warming, heatwaves and flames that are challenging all Mediterranean countries in particular, should receive the most severe punishment provided by the law”.

Currently, the situation remains critical in Delvina, where the fire has been burning with high intensity even during the night hours. The flames continue to burn in the hills surrounding the city, while air intervention by helicopter has also begun.

The situation is more difficult in the village of Menkollar, Gramsh where there are sent three firefighting vehicles, accompanied by numerous army forces, volunteers and numerous residents of the area, as well as two helicopters that are constantly dropping water to prevent the spread of the flames. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

From Gramsh, where he is closely following the operations to extinguish the fires that have affected this area, Vengu said in a statement to reporters that, “This is a dynamic situation throughout the country”.

“We are currently carrying out evacuations in Gramsh and in the municipality of Poliçan. Also, in Tepelena there is an aggravation of the situation regarding the Cold Water area”.

“The lives of the residents are our priority. 1300 local firefighters and over 1000 members of the Armed Forces have been deployed throughout the country”, said Vengu.

The minister added that, “The elements of deliberate arson must definitely receive the maximum punishment because they are causing great damage to the country in terms of lives and the environment while the fires have a cost for the entire local economy.”/gj.m/r.e//a.f/p.s./

Minister of Defense Pirro Vengu visited the three firefighters, Luan, Dëfrim and Andrea in the hospital, who had been engaged for several days in the effort to limit the perimeter of the flames in the Dukat area, where the operation is still ongoing.

Speaking to reporters, Vengu said that, “It has been a difficult effort on very steep terrain and for several days in cooperation with the Armed Forces and the Vlora Fire Service, they have been on the front lines of this effort.”

Vengu explained that, “The three officers felt breathing difficulties and received immediate assistance. They were transported by the Armed Forces initially to the health unit in Orikum, where they received first aid, and then they were transported to the emergency room of the Vlora hospital. The situation is now stabilized and they have received the necessary assistance”.

Vengu said further on that these days will continue to be difficult in terms of the fire situation, especially in mountainous and forest areas.

“We have activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism so that in the coming hours and days we will also have support from partner countries. There will be hot days with the maximum temperatures forecast on Thursday and Friday according to the Military Meteorological Service. So, we are on full alert throughout the territory”, Vengu underlined. /k.s//r.e/p.s./

“Excellent job together with the State Police during this summer season,” PM Rama said in a message on the social media posting a video showing the operation to extinguish blazes.

Earlier today, the Minister of Interior Taulant Balla said that forest fire situation worsened in the Port Palermo due to strong winds last night and therefore local residents and businesses were evacuated. However, the situation is heading towards normalization.

State Police said earlier that two suspected arsonists in the village of Kudhes, Himare region, were detained for setting a fire that spread quickly through the forest and pastures in the area, burning down dozens of hectares of forest.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama described the government decision “a deserved appreciation for the heroes and real motivation for the young people, who wish to join this noble profession.”

PM Rama shared the opinion by a firefighter, who said that the pay hike motivates him and his colleagues to best accomplish their mission and respond to fires, accidents and other incidents where there are risks to life and property.

“It is our duty to spring into action to extinguish fire, a task we have taken over by risking our own lives. Saving lives is what motivates me most and it is at the same time a motivation for others to join us in our mission. Thanks to the wage rise we are even more motivated to best accomplish our mission. We fight against an invisible enemy on daily basis and more people, ready and willing to become heroes, are needed to defeat such an enemy,” said Alban Barlika, firefighter at fire brigade in Tirana.

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