Mazovia Battles Massive Forest Fire Exceeding 100 Hectares

A significant forest fire erupted on Thursday in Międzyleś, Wołomin County, Mazovia, Poland, and has since spread rapidly, consuming over 100 hectares of both private and state-owned forests. The blaze poses a threat to nearby villages, particularly in the communes of Poświętne and Stanisławów.

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The situation is changing very dynamically.

Firefighters from multiple counties across Mazovia are on the scene, facing challenging conditions due to the proximity of residential areas and major roads. The fire was first reported before 2 PM on Thursday, with its intensity escalating dramatically by evening. Initially covering about five hectares, the affected area grew to an estimated 30 hectares by evening and exceeded 100 hectares before midnight. The exact scale of the fire remains difficult to ascertain.

As of Friday morning, the State Fire Service reported that the fire's progression had not yet been halted. Initially a crown fire, characterized by flames moving through treetops, it was fanned by strong winds that accelerated its spread. The fire later transitioned to a ground fire, moving from private land onto state-owned forest areas. While the intensity began to decrease after midnight, overnight operations focused on securing the burned area and strategically felling trees near national road No. 50, approximately one kilometer from the fire's edge.

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The fire was initially a crown fire, meaning the flames moved through the treetops. Strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. Over time, the fire changed character to a ground fire and moved from private land to state forests.

Over 600 firefighters, operating more than 200 vehicles, are engaged in the firefighting efforts, supported by nearly 600 police officers and over 150 patrol cars. Additional firefighting units from other provinces have been deployed, and a command center has been established. Aerial support includes two Dromader water-bombing aircraft and four State Forests machines, along with police Black Hawk helicopters dropping water onto the burning areas. The Deputy Minister of Interior confirmed that a crisis staff decided to dispatch further resources.

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Over 200 vehicles and nearly 600 firefighters from Mazovia are working on site. Firefighting units from other provinces have also been dispatched. In addition, over 460 police officers and more than 150 police cars are participating in the operations.