North Macedonia improves wildfire response with aircraft and military vehicles

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated during a visit to Prilep that North Macedonia is managing wildfires more effectively this year compared to other European nations such as France, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Turkey, and Serbia.

Mickoski noted that the three ‘air tractors’ used for firefighting underwent necessary repairs and were ready for deployment by May, addressing issues from 2024 when the aircraft were grounded due to lack of maintenance.

Additionally, the government has repurposed military vehicles—including models such as ‘pincgaueri’, ‘hermelini’, and ‘BTRs’—by installing water tanks for firefighting use. Seven such vehicles were recently deployed in the Prilep region. The Prime Minister also highlighted the engagement of 300 volunteers through the Directorate for Protection and Rescue under regulated work contracts, a measure he noted had not been implemented in the past.