Nine wildfire hotspots remain active in several counties across the country, while two others are under monitoring, according to the balance published by the Ministry of Defense as of 2:00 p.m. on August 15. The official version says 285 operational forces and 4 aircraft are on the ground, while the most problematic areas remain Dajt and Gurë-Lurë.
Official toll: 12 hotspots recorded, 9 still active
According to the Ministry of Defense, 12 wildfire hotspots were recorded nationwide during the day. Of these, 9 remain active, 2 are under monitoring and 1 has been fully extinguished.
The institution says 285 operational forces have been engaged in operations to isolate and extinguish the flames, including 120 members of the Armed Forces, as well as 2 helicopters and 2 Air Tractor aircraft.
The authorities claim that, at this stage, no risk to inhabited areas has been reported in any of the hotspots mentioned.
Dajt and surrounding area, main intervention above Qafë-Mollë
In Dajt, the operation continues to extinguish the fire in the area above the Qafë-Mollë tunnels. According to the official announcement, 50 members of the Armed Forces and 2 Air Force helicopters have been deployed there.
At the same time, the fire in the area of Priskë, Farkë, Lundër and Gurrë e Madhe has been brought under control and is being kept under monitoring by the structures on the ground.
Here too, the Ministry of Defense insists there is no danger to homes, although the situation remains dependent on the full isolation of the hotspot.
Gurë-Lurë, expanded operation with ground forces and aircraft
One of the largest interventions is under way in Gurë-Lurë, Dibër. According to official data, 150 municipal forces, 20 police forces, 11 forces from the Dibër Protected Areas Administration, 15 members of the Dibër Fire Protection and Rescue Service, 50 members of the Armed Forces and 2 Air Tractor aircraft are on the ground.
The Ministry says the opening of corridors with bulldozers and ground forces has stopped the fire’s advance toward homes. For the moment, according to this reporting, there is no risk to inhabited areas.
The scale of the operation in this area shows that Gurë-Lurë remains one of the most delicate points in the country’s wildfire situation.
Bulqizë, Krujë, Mirditë, Pukë and the south of the country: several hotspots still open
At Qafë Helmes, on the Bulqizë-Selishtë road axis, work continues with 11 members of the Bulqizë Fire Protection and Rescue Service, 27 municipal forces and 20 members of the Armed Forces. According to the report, the fire has been extinguished on the side of Bulqizë village, but remains active on the Selishtë side.
In Krujë, the hotspot in Abaze remains active, but with low intensity, while the fire in Zidoll is under monitoring. In Lufaj, Mirditë, work is under way to open separating corridors, with the aim of avoiding danger to homes.
The Ministry reported that the fire near the train station in Mamurras has been fully extinguished. Meanwhile, operations to isolate and extinguish the flames are also continuing in Fushë-Lajë in Pukë, Sotirë in Dropull, Gjormë in Selenicë and Dardhë in Librazhd.
In its update, the Ministry of Defense stresses that the National Civil Protection Agency is monitoring the situation in coordination with central and local structures.
However, while the official toll speaks of no danger to inhabited areas, the fact that several hotspots remain active in several counties keeps the situation far from fully normalized.