A major fire above the village of Dukat has reached alarming proportions and spread toward Cika Mountain, in a difficult mountainous area where intervention remains limited. Initial suspicions are that the flames may have been caused deliberately, while structures on the ground are working to isolate the fire hotspots.
The flames started in four hotspots and spread overnight
The fire appeared at around 19:00 yesterday evening, initially in four hotspots. During the night, it expanded across a considerable area, moving in the direction of Cika Mountain.
From the area, the scale of the flames appears large and the situation remains complicated due to the rugged terrain, which makes ground intervention more difficult.
Firefighters and the army are on the ground, but intervention began in the early morning hours
Firefighting forces arrived on the ground at around 04:00 in the morning and began work to isolate the hotspots. The operation also includes around 40 members of the Armed Forces, under the direction of Civil Emergencies structures.
The scale of the fire and its spread across mountainous terrain also raise questions about the speed of the response, while the operation is expected to last for several hours.
The risk remains open for the area toward Llogara
At present, weather conditions are not favoring the rapid spread of the flames, as the wind is not strong. However, any change in the wind would increase the risk of the fire advancing toward Llogara National Park.
This keeps the situation at a high level of alert, especially because of its proximity to an area of high environmental sensitivity.
Air support is also expected
According to the structures involved in the operation, alongside ground intervention, air support is also expected to play a role, especially in steep areas where ground vehicles have difficulty reaching.
Meanwhile, teams on the ground must be equipped with water and food, as their stay in the fire-affected area is expected to be prolonged.
So far, the focus remains on fully isolating the hotspots and preventing further spread in one of the most sensitive areas of the south.
The cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, but suspicions of deliberate arson make the incident even more serious.