There are currently at least 12wildfires throughout Albania, significantly less than this time last year, although, with temperatures set to rise over the weekend, more could be expected.
In 2021, Albania experienced a worse than normal fire season with thousands of hectares destroyed throughout the country. This year, Italy and Greece are suffering significant fire issues as temperatures soar above 40 degrees.
Most of the fires are said to be under control and do not threaten any homes. They are situated mainly in Vlora, Durres County, Vore, Miredita, Balldren, Tropoje, and Lushnje.
However, a fire in Lezhe is being fought with a helicopter and 60 officers and volunteers. Located near the protected are of Berzana, the fire is in danger of spiralling out of control according to defence Minister Niko Peleshi. He wrote that a Cougar helicopter was on site on Wednesday evening to try and bring the flames under control.
Also, in Orikum near Vlore, blazing vegetation also engulfed two cars which were parked nearby.
Meanwhile, the Greek capital is surrounded by flames visible from all over the Attica basin as the fire in Penteli has reached unmanageable proportions.
According to a spokesman for the Athen’s Fire Service, the fire started at 17:19 on Tuesday, with authorities expressing intense concern early on and appealing to residents in the areas to standby for any evacuation.
The fire is burning on dozens of scattered fronts, and the Emergency Communications Service via the 112 number has sent messages to people’s mobile phones to evacuate at-risk areas.
The firestorm has already caused damage to dozens of homes while the entire fire brigade of the Attica region is on general alert, and firefighters from other parts of Greece have come to help.
Strong winds are blowing in the area, making the extinguishing work difficult.
According to the update, 420 firefighters are operating with 18 firefighting teams, while 15 aircraft and nine helicopters are periodically operating, including one for aerial coordination.
In Italy, a vast fire broke out in Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region on Tuesday morning, involving 37 teams and 114 operators in the firefighting operations.
The causes are yet to be ascertained, but the fire forced the highway and nearby railway to be closed. The wildfire also created problems with the electricity, and shortly after 17:00, a general blackout occurred in Trieste and neighbouring municipalities.
Across Italy, fires continue to rage. About 40 fire-related interventions engaged firefighters on Tuesday in Rome and its province. Some areas in Tuscany and near Bolzano, in the north of Italy, have also burned.
Temperatures at the weekend are expected to increase to around 38 degrees from a relatively cool 34. It is not yet forecast whether the heatwave that is ripping through Western Europe, seeing temperatures rise to 40 in the UK, Belgium, and Austria, will make it across the Adriatic.
