Peat bog fire burns ~15 hectares in Šepeta, Kupiškio district, Lithuania

A fire broke out in the Šepeta peat bog in Kupiškio district, Lithuania, after a 13:23 report of smoke near Bukėnai village. The peatland, which spans about 50 hectares, has around 15 hectares actively burning.

Firefighters deployed extensive resources, including 28 VPGT units, 41 personnel, ten water‑tankers, ten heavy‑machinery units and drones for aerial monitoring. The Environment Protection Agency issued an air‑quality warning, advising residents of nearby villages—Bukėnai, Papilių, Juodpenų and Šepeta—to stay indoors, close windows and avoid outdoor exposure.

Measurements are being taken for particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Health officials warned that smoke can irritate eyes, nose and throat, cause breathing difficulties and aggravate chronic lung conditions. The fire response continues while authorities model pollutant dispersion based on prevailing west‑ and southwest‑moving winds.