A part of the fires are a result of negligence by citizens, but there are indications regarding most and even evidence about some of them that they were caused intentionally, Stojance Angelov, head of the Protection and Rescue Directorate, stated on Monday. At least 51 outdoor fires had been registered the previous day.
Angelov stated that that was an alarming figure.
“There are different motives. There is a possibility of someone having financial-criminal motives. Perhaps someone is hoping they will be able to cut down the burned down forest because, at some locations, there were fires that broke out in an inexplicable manner in high-quality forest, such as the fire near Makedonska Kamenica. There is a possibility of pathological motives, that is, persons that enjoy the sight of fire. However, they wouldn’t set a fire near a settlement, that is, where they can be seen, caught, recorded”, he underlined, nonetheless adding that when it came to the motives, one could only make assumptions.
The wildfire situation remains most serious on Goten Mountain.