After a 48-hour operation, the two biggest fires of the recent days, one in Pish Poro Forest in Vlora and the other in the Mountains of Morava in the district of Korca, were completely extinguished.

Director of Civil Emergencies in the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Alfred Olli informed that thanks to the collaboration with the Italian and Turkish parties, which placed at their disposal helicopters, the Albanian party has been able to extinguishing fire from air. These two fires are now completely under control and now operations have been focused on two other problematic areas.

“In the district of Kukes, where there are two problematic fire-places, and in the districts of Elbasan and Gramsh. A joint plan has been compiled with the Italian and Turkish parties to operate in these areas, which we consider as problematic,” said Olli.

Director of Civil Emergencies said the risk from fire is still present because of the high temperatures. Olli explained that in relation to civil emergencies, this year is not a usual one in relation to the high temperatures that it is showing, which increase the risk from fire. Until one year ago, the risky period was from July 15 to August 15. 

“Very high temperatures, especially in areas where there are massive groups of people, such as beaches or mountaineering tourism areas, are dangerous. A single cigarette can cause a very big fire. You should be very careful. Through the respective services, the Ministry of Interior Affairs and other ministers of the line, will be very strict in the implementation of law, especially for those people who start intentional fires,” said Olli.

Even though this year is a special case because of the very high temperatures, in the analyses of civil emergencies, 2007 remains the year with the highest number of fires and with the highest level of damage in our country.

Fires in Vlora, Criminal investigation against four persons

Fires in the district of Vlora, which are considered highly dangerous, were not accidental. Through a declaration, the Police of Vlora said for the media that it started criminal investigation against four persons: Aleks Sallaku, 39 years old, living in Delisuf Village in the district of Vlora; Feim Kociaj, 46 years old, living in Akerrni Village and Rrapush Bushaj, 63 years old, living in Poro Village. They are accused by the police as the persons responsible for the fire in Pish Poro forest. 

They are accused by the police that on August 24, during the early morning hours, they set on fire a considerable surface in this forest. Meanwhile, the Police of Vlora has started investigation for “property damage by fire” against citizen Leonard Haska, 31 years old, living in the city of Vlora. He is accused of setting fire to a considerable surface in the Sola forest on August 24, near 13:30.

The fires in the district of Vlora were extinguished only one day ago after a two-day operation. Thanks to preliminary calculations, 150 hectares were burned in Pish Poro forest, out of 2000 hectares in total, which is extended into a coastal area. The fire in this pine forest is the biggest and the most dangerous in the South of Albania.