Fire on Suva Planina continues to burn, threatening a large forest complex

The wildfire on Suva Planina continues to burn on both sides of the mountain range, with firefighters facing their most difficult task in the forest above the Bela Palanka village of Kosmovac.

Srđan Mitrović, head of the Emergency Situations Administration in Niš, told Beta that the flames above Kosmovac could spread through the entire forest between the village and Veta. Crews made good progress during the previous morning, he said, but strong afternoon winds created new problems on the side facing Bela Palanka.

The fire is also moving toward the Tri Lokve pass, although Mitrović said it remains far from a position where firefighters could operate. Fires are burning on the Gadžin Han side as well, but those flames are affecting grass and low vegetation and are not considered a threat to any villages.

A Russian Ilyushin aircraft is expected to continue aerial firefighting, as it has in previous days. Authorities are also awaiting information about the possible deployment of a helicopter from Serbia’s Interior Ministry. All firefighters from the Niš emergency administration are on the ground, assisted by volunteer fire brigades and Srbijašume employees.

Mitrović thanked volunteers who use motorcycles and quad bikes to carry water backpacks to the mountain peaks. The terrain is extremely difficult to access, he said, and there is no other way to deliver water to the firefighters.

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We made quite good progress putting out the fire during yesterday morning. However, a very strong wind blew in the afternoon and caused us problems again on the side toward Bela Palanka.