The fire in Fushë-Lajë, in the forests of Mount Tërbunit in the Municipality of Pukë, has forced authorities to expand the response with aerial assets after the situation worsened over the past two days. According to the official version, the operation is under continuous monitoring, while rugged terrain, high temperatures and wind are making it difficult to contain the flames.
Two helicopters in the morning operation
In the early morning hours, an aerial intervention began with two helicopters. According to the institutions, the operation is being coordinated by the Prefecture of Shkodër County in cooperation with the National Civil Protection Agency.
The deployment of aerial assets shows that the fire front has not been contained by ground forces alone, while authorities are trying to keep under control a hotspot that has continued for days.
40 Armed Forces personnel on the ground
Because of the mountainous terrain, high temperatures and wind, 40 Armed Forces personnel have also been included in the operation. According to the official statement, this reinforcement came after the situation deteriorated over the past two days.
Structures from the Pukë Fire Protection and Rescue Service, the forest service, local service workers, residents and volunteers from the area, as well as personnel from the Fushë-Arrëz Fire Protection and Rescue Service, have also been engaged on the ground for several days.
Continuous monitoring, but the fire remains an active problem
The Office of the Prefect of Shkodër County says the situation is being monitored in real time by the technical leader of the operation and the structures engaged on the ground. However, the very deployment of additional forces and helicopters shows that the fire remains an active problem and not an isolated episode.
According to authorities, the responsible structures are working to isolate and fully extinguish the flames using the operational capacities available.
So far, no further data have been made public on the extent of the damage or the risk to inhabited areas.
Pending a clearer assessment from the institutions, attention remains focused on the effectiveness of the intervention in an area where conditions on the ground are making the operation particularly difficult.