Wildfires are raging in various places in Bulgaria amid temperatures that are unusually warm for this time of November. In the past 24 hours there were 264 fires, while 30 new fires were detected between midnight and the morning of November 11 2010.

In total, 264 fires are raging, up from 37 fires reported at noon on November 10, the National Fire and Emergency Safety services said in a media statement.

Regions around Sofia, Botevgrad, Pravets, Etropole, Lovech, Troyan, Teteven and Montana remain in very serious condition, the report said. To combat the blazes, more than 1200 personnel will be deployed, up from 450 the previous day, Bulgarian television channel bTV said.

A combined force of firefighters, police, civil defence, park and mountain rangers, the Bulgarian army, members of hunting clubs, staff from private companies, municipalities and volunteers were working together against the blazes.

Strong winds reaching hurricane intensity, which lashed Bulgaria for nearly three days and throughout the night of November 10-11 and the unseasonably warm weather, have contributed greatly to the infernos. To top it all, temperatures went up as high as 27C in places. The only good news for the authorities is that the forecast for November 11 is one of bigger cloud cover and possible rain, although temperatures will remain high for the season.

The previous day, the situation in the municipalities of Etropole and Teteven was reported as most critical.

Forest fires raging in Stara Planina mountain caused significant damage to the flora and fauna, and for the moment there is no information that they have been successfully tackled.

Firefighters, rescuers, police officers, forest and mountain rangers and volunteers were battling together to extinguish the flames in the municipalities of Etropole and Teteven, the report said. A helicopter from 28th squadron was deployed for the second day running.

There are six major conflagrations raging in the Sofia and Lovech municipalities. Fires raging between the villages of Lipnitsa and Bozhenitsa, are reportedly encompassing areas more than 300 ha.