According to the Nacionalni Sumi (National Forests) PE, there are no indications that most of the wildfires are actually arson cases, considering that low vegetation has been burning more and more, that is, not timber that could later on be purchased at a lower price. However, PM Hristijan Mickoski thinks otherwise.
“Not only we suspect, but there is evidence, there are detained persons who were doing that, especially on Skopje’s territory because the fire, the last one, yesterday, near Lake Smilkovci, was in the evening, after 9 pm. What we found there, but also three persons secured afterwards, indicate there is grounded suspicion about a coordinated and well-devised activity, especially in Skopje”, he stressed on Thursday.
The same day, regarding VMRO-DPMNE’s accusations that his party is gloating over the situation, SDSM leader Venko Filipce stated that that was not true considering his party had extended an arm for joint activities to deal with the situation.