Wildfires in Volkovo and Sopiste spark calls for land maintenance laws

Several wildfires have broken out across North Macedonia, with significant activity reported in Volkovo and the Sopiste municipality. In Volkovo, firefighting teams, including aerial support, worked to prevent the blaze from reaching residential buildings. Stojanche Angelov, Director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, reported that the Volkovo fire was being brought under control, while interventions involving water bombers were deployed in Sopiste.

The recent fires in Volkovo have sparked local outcry regarding the management of abandoned and unmaintained land parcels. Residents are calling for stricter laws and fines for property owners who fail to clear overgrown vegetation, which they argue poses a recurring seasonal risk. Some residents have proposed that municipalities should be legally empowered to clear such land and invoice the owners directly.

Other recent fire incidents were reported in Javzinče, Brnjarci, and various other municipalities, though most were quickly extinguished. Officials noted that while many fires appear accidental, there is evidence of some being intentionally caused, and authorities are urging citizens to report suspicious behavior.