Fire at Dobrashanci landfill near Strumica contained, officials warn residents

A fire broke out at a waste landfill near the village of Dobrashanci in the Strumica municipality of North Macedonia. Two fire trucks and six firefighters, assisted by the municipal waste‑management unit, worked to extinguish the blaze by covering the site with soil. The fire was later declared localized, though authorities kept crews on the scene until it was fully out. The Crisis Management Center reported one fire active and another under control, part of a total of ten open‑space fires recorded that day, eight of which had already been extinguished at sites across several municipalities.

Local residents were urged to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and stay away from the affected area. Health‑focused NGO "Healthy Hearth" warned that the dense smoke could harm children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, and called for an investigation into possible negligence at the landfill. Officials advised people to keep windows closed, stay indoors if smoke is thick, and report any new fires to emergency services.