Bulgaria is currently battling severe wildfires across multiple regions, exacerbated by a prolonged heatwave. The fires have led to significant property damage and prompted evacuations in affected areas.
The Strumyani municipality in southwestern Bulgaria is experiencing the most severe situation, with fires raging for several days. Another large blaze is burning near the town of Tran, close to the Serbian border, resulting in evacuations and destruction of buildings. A crisis headquarters has been established in Sofia under the Ministry of the Interior to coordinate firefighting efforts. Bulgaria has appealed to EU member states for assistance in combating the fires.
In response to the escalating crisis, the European Union has mobilized resources to assist Bulgaria. Countries such as the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, and Slovakia have provided firefighting aircraft and helicopters to support the efforts on the ground.
The Environment Ministry has reported that Bulgaria is the EU country most affected by fires in 2024–2025, with over 38,000 hectares burned, resulting in damages exceeding 2.5 million euros. The ministry attributes the fires to a combination of climate change and human negligence, citing factors such as high temperatures, low precipitation, strong winds, and human activities like discarded cigarette butts and burning waste.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid activities that could ignite fires during the current heatwave and to report any signs of fire immediately. Firefighting teams remain deployed in multiple regions, with efforts ongoing to control and extinguish the blazes.
The situation remains dynamic, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. ## Wildfires Intensify Across Bulgaria Amid Heatwave: - [Wildfires rage across Bulgaria, destroying forests and homes](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wildfires-rage-across-bulgaria-destroying-forests-homes-2025-07-27/?utm_source=openai) - [Wildfires threaten Turkey's fourth-largest city as southern Europe grapples with blazes](https://apnews.com/article/f58126f03465b0604f13b901346976a0?utm_source=openai)