Bulgaria Deploys Military, Drones to Combat Summer Wildfires

The Bulgarian government has approved a comprehensive emergency plan to tackle the heightened wildfire risk during the upcoming summer season. Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev announced that fire‑safety teams will be positioned close to high‑risk forest and field areas as soon as the fire‑danger index rises, reducing response time. The plan incorporates the use of all available fire‑department drones to locate and track ignitions in real time.

The Defence Ministry confirmed that the army is on full alert to support firefighting operations. Four Kogur helicopters, two Mi‑17 choppers and a Spartan transport aircraft equipped with a new fire‑suppression system have been earmarked for the effort, although the aircraft’s system has not yet been field‑tested. In total, 22 specialised army formations, comprising between 100 and 400 personnel, will be ready to assist, with 15 units based in southern Bulgaria and seven in the north.

Additional resources include border‑police aviation for transport and surveillance, and the Agriculture Ministry’s restriction on mowing during daylight hours to protect farmland. Coordination among the interior, defence and agriculture ministries aims to minimise fire damage to settlements, forests and crops this summer.