Fire on Suva Planina spreads across mountain ridge toward foothills

A wildfire swept across Suva Planina on Friday, spreading from forest above the villages of Veta and Kosmovac toward the mountain foothills in the municipality of Gadžin Han.

Hikers who reached Trem, the mountain’s highest peak at 1,810 meters, said the flames were advancing at remarkable speed. The grass and low vegetation have dried out after a prolonged drought, while strong winds have helped push the fire across the ridge.

The fire line could be seen overnight from most villages in the Gadžin Han area. Residents said it extended for several kilometers and was descending toward the base of the mountain. Villages closest to the flames were not yet threatened, they said, but people were alarmed because they had never seen a wildfire of this scale on Suva Planina.

Srđan Mitrović, head of the Emergency Situations Sector in Niš, told Beta that the difficult terrain prompted authorities to bring in a Russian Ilyushin firefighting aircraft. The plane made two passes. Firefighters from Niš and workers from Srbijasume will continue efforts during the night, with additional crews expected the following day.

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The fire is spreading at incredible speed because the grass and low vegetation are completely dry due to the prolonged drought, and strong winds are also blowing.