Wildfires in Albania have pushed northward. The EU is providing firefighting resources.
Albanian officials are approaching their third week of combating flames that started in southern Albania and spread north. Three additional fires were recorded in northern Diber and one in central Elbasan.
Interior Minister Taulant Balla stated last week that the government requested EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre assistance. He said rescue responders relied on a Cougar helicopter to reach isolated mountainous places.
Albania joined the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in 2022 and can receive disaster aid from other members. Greece dispatched multiple Canadair aircraft to fight the blaze.
Albania has ancient, badly maintained fire engines, according to the State Supreme Audit. Only one of the Defense Ministry’s four emergency helicopters works due to safety issues.
Arben Cara, Fire Department General Director, said police are deploying Bayraktar drones to locate and analyze fire hotspots from above to help plan fire management.
Albania’s high temperatures and geography cause summer wildfires that burn 10,000 hectares yearly.
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