Fire situation in 24 hours/ Ministry of Defense: 34 fires reported, 5 still active

2025-08-17 10:56:00, Aktualitet CNA

Fire situation in 24 hours/ Ministry of Defense: 34 fires reported, 5 still

During the last 24 hours, 34 fires have been registered, of which:
27 have been extinguished, 5 are active and 2 are being monitored.

54 firefighting vehicles and 690 operational forces, supported by 110 troops of the Armed Forces with 2 firefighting vehicles, were engaged in firefighting operations. 2 helicopters of the Albanian Air Force and 1 helicopter from the United Arab Emirates were also deployed.

Active fires
In the village of Tërnova, Zerqan administrative unit, Bulqizë municipality, work has continued to extinguish the fire that has broken out in the dense forest canopy. Due to the work of operational forces and support from air intervention, several fires have been brought under control. One fire in the place called “Maja e Shkëmbit” and the other in the direction of the villages of Valikardhe and Peladhi remain problematic. During the day, 8 members of the MZSH of the Bulqizë municipality, 8 municipal forces and 8 Forest Service forces were engaged in the operation. In support of coping with the situation, 30 troops from the Armed Forces and an Air Force helicopter were also engaged. The fire is developing with medium intensity and mostly within the perimeter crossed the day before.

Work has continued to extinguish the fire that broke out in the village of Xeth, Blerim administrative unit, Fushë Arrëz municipality. The fire has developed intensely, escalating to the villages of Kulumri, Trun and Kunorë-Dardhe. During the day, 42 municipal forces, 2 firefighting vehicles and 80 troops from the Armed Forces, as well as 20 volunteers, were engaged in the operation, which worked until late in the evening. In support of the forces on the ground, an air intervention was carried out by 2 Air Force helicopters. During the night, it is reported that the situation, also affected by the rainfall that has affected the area, has been brought under control. The fire was monitored during the night.

The fire in the village of Pezë Helmës, administrative unit of Pezë, municipality of Tirana, has continued to be active. The fire is a continuation of the fire that broke out in the village of Damjan-Fortuzaj, administrative unit of Vaqarr. The fire has grown in size and is out of control at noon. A United Arab Emirates helicopter intervened from the air to bring it under control. The situation is being monitored. Today, it is reported that the fire has low intensity.

In the villages of Kullollas, Kodovjat, Ermenj, Skënderbegas administrative unit, Gramsh municipality, work continued to extinguish the fire that broke out on 12.08.2025. Operational forces continued to work with small fires, to prevent them from spreading, where a fire on Mount Koshnica remains active, which is being monitored by Forest Service employees and residents of the area. During the day, there was reactivation in the village of Bletëz, which was normalized by the intervention of 1 fire truck and 4 MZSH officers. Also at noon, there was reactivation in the village of Kullollas, where a massif of pine trees was at risk. 2 fire trucks with 6 officers were deployed to this fire, who managed to extinguish it. The situation in the villages affected by the fire is being monitored.

In the place called "Teqeja e Dushkut", Kukur administrative unit, Gramsh municipality, the fire source continues to be active. During the day, 2 fire trucks with 10 employees from the Gramsh MZSH, 2 municipal fire engines with 4 municipal forces and 4 volunteers were deployed in the area. There were difficulties in extinguishing the fire due to the layers of humus. Today it is reported that the fire source is close to being isolated.

Work continued to extinguish the fire that broke out on 14.08.2025, in the village of Rreja e Zezë (Velë), Rubik administrative unit, Mirditë municipality. During the day, 3 firefighting vehicles with 7 personnel from the Mirditë MZSH, 4 police forces, 17 municipal forces, 7 Forest Service forces and 10 volunteers were deployed in the operation, who worked to extinguish it until the evening. The work of the forces resulted in the fire being completely isolated and, based on the assessment, it does not pose a risk of spreading. The fire is being monitored by the Forest Service forces.

Work has continued to extinguish the fire that broke out in the Gërmenj Natural Park, Leskovik administrative unit, Kolonjë municipality. The fire was developing intensely between pyramids 13 and 15, on the border with Greece. The repeated explosions of combat ammunition present in the area since the Italo-Greek war caused the operation to be interrupted. 3 firefighting vehicles with 13 personnel from the Kolonjë MZSH, 6 police forces, 17 municipal forces, 7 AdZM, 4 Forest Service and 4 volunteer forces were deployed to the area. The fire continues to burn in several areas. According to reports today, it is established that the fire has not spread and no reactivations have been observed.

Extinct hearths
Val (Martanesh, Bulqizë), Kodër Qerre (Mat)
Xeth (Blerim, Fushë Arrëz)
Durishtë (Petrelë), Ferraj–Zall Herr–Brarë–Priskë e Vogël (Dajt), Gjipal (Zall Bastar), Vilë-Ballaj (Rrogozhinë)
Kalanjas (Skrapar)

Forces from all emergency structures remain on the ground to monitor and deal with any possible reactivation of the fires.