Bulgaria reports sixfold decrease in forest fire damage

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev announced a significant reduction in forest fire damage during a celebration for firefighters and rescuers. According to Demerdzhiev, the area of forest land affected by fires this year is six times smaller than in the previous year.

Statistics provided by the Minister indicate a nearly 21% decrease in total fire incidents. Compared to the 2025 fire season, which saw 14,588 fires, the current year has recorded over 3,000 fewer incidents. Furthermore, the number of large-scale fires affecting areas over 300 decares has dropped by more than 55%, falling from 92 in 2025 to 41 this year. This downward trend is reportedly corroborated by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

The Minister credited the success to the efforts of the Directorate General Fire Safety and Civil Protection, as well as collaborative actions involving volunteers and the Ministries of Defense, Agriculture, and Labor and Social Policy.