Fires have spread across several parts of Kosovo’s municipalities, primarily burning wheat fields, but not limited to them. The Directorate for Security and Emergency Management of the Municipality of Prishtina has announced that the situation is currently alarming due to the high number of fires throughout the capital and beyond.
It is reported that, up to this point, 12 fire incidents have been registered, while 7 teams from the Fire Brigade are currently on the ground intervening in active fire hotspots.
“The Fire Brigade has fully mobilized its personnel, engaging 15 additional firefighters. Furthermore, due to the worsening situation in the Municipality of Podujeva, a support team has been dispatched, while in the village of Krojmir in the Municipality of Lipjan, two firefighting teams from the capital have been deployed. The Directorate for Security and Emergency Management is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to respond in real time as needed. We call on all citizens to exercise maximum caution, as the risk of fire outbreaks is extremely high due to high temperatures and dry atmospheric conditions,” the announcement states.
In Llapashticë of Podujeva, fires that broke out today have intensified further due to weather conditions. The Mayor of Podujeva, Shpejtim Bulliqi, stated that the scenes are distressing, severe, and entirely unacceptable.
“Together with our firefighters and police, I followed the situation closely. They are doing everything possible to manage it. Fortunately, thanks to a quick response, even greater damage was avoided,” he wrote on Facebook.
He further emphasized that burning crop residues during this summer period is a highly harmful practice. According to him, besides the risk of fire spreading and property damage, this behavior destroys the living organisms in these areas and severely damages soil fertility.
“I call for this dangerous practice to be stopped immediately, as it poses a serious threat to life, property, and the environment. In these hot days, I urge citizens to be vigilant and act with full responsibility toward the environment, property, and our shared safety,” his post continues.
Fires have also affected other areas. The Mayor of Istog, Ilir Ferati, said that following the situation caused by fires in the villages of Kovragë, Veriq, Osojan, and Gurrakoc, the situation is alarming, calling for maximum attention and care from everyone.
“Together with firefighting teams, the Kosovo Police, and responsible institutions, we are on the ground and working with all our capacities to localize and extinguish the fire hotspots, in order to prevent their spread and protect property, agricultural land, and the safety of our residents. I appeal to every citizen of Istog to be extremely cautious, especially in agricultural and forested areas, and to avoid burning weeds, waste, or other materials, as even a small spark can cause great and irreversible damage,” he said.
Meanwhile, fires have also been reported in the villages of Carralevë and Pjetërshticë in the Municipality of Shtime. The Commander of the Fire and Rescue Brigade, Bajram Gashi, stated that in both villages the response was swift.
“As a result of our intervention, we managed to bring two fire hotspots under control. Strong winds are favoring the rapid spread of the fire, and the rugged terrain and difficult access for fire vehicles are further complicating our response,” he said.
According to him, three residential homes were saved in Carralevë and Pjetërshticë, as the fire had reached inhabited areas.
