FIREFIGHTERS CONTAIN BLAZE THREATENING VILLAGE ON SLOPES OF STARA PLANINA

PIROT, OCTOBER 7 /SRNA/ - Firefighters have managed to stop a wildfire just short of the first buildings in the village of Osmakovo on the slopes of Stara Planina.

Dalibor Živković, commander of the Pirot Fire and Rescue Battalion, said several abandoned buildings had burned down, but the village had been saved from a blaze that threatened to seriously endanger residents. Živković said more than 320 hectares had been affected by the fire and that crews had been battling the blaze with all available firefighting resources for four days. "The situation is better than in previous days, but it remains uncertain. The fire is unpredictable and new hotspots are constantly emerging, threatening to spread. Grass and low vegetation have burned, as well as large areas of acacia and pine forest. The terrain is extremely difficult to access and impassable, which is making our work even harder," Živković told Tanjug. Residents said firefighters had also managed to save numerous vineyards and an area of hills with centuries-old oak trees.