The Deputy Commander of the Fire Brigade, Abdusamed Shkodra, has raised an alarm about the increase in field and forest fires due to high temperatures.
15% Increase in Fire Incidents
According to Shkodra, the number of fire incidents has increased by 15% compared to previous years. “With the rise in air temperatures, field and forest fires, or open fires, are more pronounced. There is an increase not only compared to the previous year but to all years by percentage,” he said.
Shkodra emphasized that the best way to manage this crisis is for citizens to be more careful. He appealed to them to avoid starting fires with careless actions like throwing cigarette butts from cars or leaving waste in dry areas. He also called on farmers to refrain from burning crop residue after harvesting, as this can easily lead to uncontrolled fires.
Over 1,300 Interventions So Far
Shkodra noted that firefighters are responding to an average of 6 to 7 interventions per day. The situation has become so extreme that on July 7 alone, they had about 30 interventions in a short period.
“These interventions are not only open fires; they also include fires in buildings and open spaces,” he added. He stressed that while a fire can be started in an instant, it can take days for firefighters to extinguish it.
“Citizens must be careful with their actions and not cause fires, because they create a general danger. The best management would come from the citizens themselves,” Shkodra concluded.
