Some 80 pct of fires in Albania caused by ignorance of fire restrictions

More than 80 percent of the fires in Albania were caused by people's ignorance of the fire restrictions, Albanian chief of civilian emergencies Shemsi Premci said on Friday.

"I can burn my waste materials in my farm intentionally, but I don't plan to burn the other farms," explained Premci in an interview for Albanian Top Channel.

A series of dangerous fires have spread throughout the country recently, the head of emergency asked the police to fine every farmer that creates fires and to be stricter with the implementation of the law.

"Structures of the environment ministry forest police or the inspectorate of environment should punish with administrative measures all those who start fires, even in their parcels. Moreover, they should denounce all those people who start fires in forests," said Premci.

Meanwhile, fires have started again on Thursday afternoon in the forested area of Truni in Fushe­ Arrez in northern Albania and have caused major damages in the surrounding area.

Once the firefighters had the fire under control, a sudden and powerful wind scattered it across the forested areas. Consequently, the situation got out of control. Puka Fire Station sent additional firefighting vehicles in the area, while the night made the intervention by air impossible.

Currently the teams are managing the situation at the scene along with residents of the area, in order to put it under control. Meanwhile, a civil emergency helicopter has flown to the area, throwing water from the air. Enditem