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Israel offers help as Bulgarian wildfire spreads

Israel Materials 3 July 2012 16:23 (UTC +04:00)
Israel was ready to offer help as a wildfire in Bulgaria spread on Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov
Israel offers help as Bulgarian wildfire spreads

Israel was ready to offer help as a wildfire in Bulgaria spread on Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said dpa reproted

Israel said it would make firefighting aircraft available to the country, however Borisov said no decision had been made on whether to accept the assistance.

Some 400 firefighters, security forces and volunteers have been trying to extinguish the blaze in the Bistrishko Branishte national park, located near Bulgarian capital Sofia, since it broke out on Sunday.

What began as a five-hectare forest fire three days ago has now expanded to 15 hectares, officials said Tuesday.

European Union member Bulgaria does not have the appropriate aircraft to put out the fire, experts told local media.

Instead, firefighters have been using horses and mules because the mountainous terrain made the area difficult to access.

No casualties have been reported and nearby settlements were not in danger. The reason for the fire's outbreak was not known.

Meteorologists warned that temperatures will soar to 37 degrees Celsius over the coming days.

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