Forest fires blazing in Serbia

An Internal Affairs Ministry press release quoted Sector chief Luka Causic as saying that the worst of the fires were at the foot of Mt Stara Planina in the Dimitrovgrad and Pirot municipalities and Zagubica where the fire is thought to have been set deliberately.

The press release said that the situation is complex because of difficult access for Sector, Srbija Sume national forestry company and local firefighting teams who are being assisted by two helicopters. Causic said firefighters would be flown in to tackle the blaze.

A fire in the Kucalj-Beljanica national park has been fanned by strong winds for a fifth day, N1 has been told by the Eastern Serbia Rangers Association.

Firefighters are also battling a blaze outside the city of Bela Palanka, the fourth in the past two weeks. According to the local police the fire has engulfed at least 50 hectares of grassland and forest.