Strategy for managing wildfires: Defense Minister meets with Chief of General Staff and Head of NCDA

Strategy for managing wildfires: Defense Minister meets with Chief of General Staff and Head of NCDA

Published: Thursday, 15 August 2024 13:16

The Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and the National Civil Defense Agency have been discussing their ongoing strategy to address the sensitive issue of wildfires across the country. Their efforts are focused not just on deploying military and NCDA personnel on the ground, but also on improving coordination to maximize the effectiveness of their work alongside firefighting teams. This was the main point of the meeting led by Defense Minister Pirro Vengu, with Major General Arben Kingji, Chief of the General Staff, and Haki Çako, head of the NCDA.

Minister Vengu stressed that early warning and swift action are crucial to successfully managing these situations. Major General Kingji added that 4,600 troops have been deployed on the ground for fire suppression operations, working in coordination with the NCDA. He noted that a "Cougar" helicopter is already in action, with a medical helicopter on standby. Additionally, Black Hawk helicopters and the naval fleet are available if needed. Major General Kingji assured that all logistical preparations have been made to support the fire suppression missions, and that the Joint Operations Center is fully operational 24/7.

Haki Çako, head of the NCDA, provided an update on the current situation, reporting that 40 fires were recorded in the past 24 hours, most of which have been successfully managed. The most challenging fires, according to Çako, are those in difficult terrains. He expressed his gratitude to the Air Force personnel for preventing potentially dangerous situations for residents. Çako also highlighted the successful intervention of two Romanian planes in Prespa Park, which has brought the fire there under control and close to full containment.

During the meeting, it was decided that, starting this Friday, the NCDA will provide daily updates in the early hours, summarizing the wildfire situation across the country and the measures being taken to address them.

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