Velesh, North Macedonia fire tackled by two aerial firefighting aircraft

A large fire broke out in the Dorutovets area near a gasoline station on the outskirts of Velesh, North Macedonia. Strong winds threatened rapid spread toward the Veles‑Štip road, prompting crisis‑management chief Stojanche Angelov, director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DZS), to deploy two aerial firefighting planes known as “er tractors”.

Local fire crews from the Territorial Fire Unit of Veles, equipped with two fire engines and six firefighters, joined forces with volunteers from nearby villages, a tanker from JP Derven, and municipal services. Police were readied to regulate traffic as dense smoke drifted onto the highway. The aerial intervention significantly reduced the danger, though the blaze continued moving toward the road. Nationwide, nine open‑space fires were recorded, with four still active and five extinguished.