Good morning/evening

I have lived here in Eastern Europe now for over 16 years, summers can be very hot which is why I usually go back to the UK for a couple of months to escape the heat, there have, most summers been the odd wildfire but this year has been the worst that I know of, it was not just here either, there have been wildfires in a lot of European countries including Spain, Greece and Turkey.

Even now at the beginning of September when things tend to cool down there is still a red alert for fire danger issued for the many regions including Silistra, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Vratsa, Yambol, Haskovo, and Kardzhali (Not localised this covers a large span of the country)A red alert means that rapidly spreading, very strong fires reaching tree crowns are possible. Such fires are difficult to control. Last week also firefighters were still fighting wildfires in almost 100 locations, with many evacuation alerts still in place.

Picture from local news.

Now being away from home whilst this was happening was a blessing but also a curse, a friend posted a video of a fire right outside her gate, The village she lives in had an evacuation alert and I have many friends in this village, it also happens to be just up the road from us! My family thought it was best to not worry me by telling me how bad and how close the fires were, which just made me worry more and once I spoke to them I told them to update me regularly and if they had to evacuate do not forget the ledger key. To make matters worse the mains water had gone off for days so they had to go and collect local spring water in bottles to place around the house.

Picture taken by my son as the helicopter goes over our garden.

It has been stated that over the European Union over 1 million hectares have been burnt which is the highest total in over 2 decades, a shocking statistic.Some of this can be avoided as it has been stated that BBQs, cigarettes not put out properly and even discarded glass jars thrown away on dry grass verges have been the cause of some of the fires, also locally an unmaintained tractor being used caught fire which then spread and ended up being another huge wildfire. This could be reduced by educating people on the dangers and how easily a wildfire can be started, but when temperatures are so hot for so long with no rain for months, then people need to be careful, it should be common sense but even today one neighbour was burning rubbish in her garden, while there is a fire ban in place!

Then there is the Institutional accountability where journalists have frequently questioned the government’s ability to handle the crisis. Reports criticized idle firefighting helicopters, inadequate investment in equipment, and slow political responses. Headlines highlighted the gap between available resources and their limited use, amid public frustration. They have also suggested that more effective crisis management with more modern equipment  is needed. Bulgaria currently has 2 Swedish Air tractor AT-802F fire boss water planes helping to fight fires in hard to reach areas.

There have been many pictures of firefighters, volunteers, and local residents battling flames under intense heat and with minimal resources as well as young teenagers taking drinking water and snacks to those fighting fires, people with diggers trying to dig fire breaks to stop the fires spreading. There has been international assistance from many other countries but the Bulgarian people believe they should have the resources of their own and are calling for modern fire engines and planes of their own for putting out the fires. 

In this sense, the wildfires act as both a local and global reminder. They reveal the urgent need for stronger prevention strategies and better use of resources, while also connecting Bulgaria’s challenges to the wider realities of climate change. How the country chooses to respond will determine whether these disasters remain recurring tragedies or catalysts for lasting reform.

My thoughts are with anyone that has been affected by the wildfires whatever country you are in.

As always, thank you for reading and feel free to comment, I had planned to publish my portfolio post, that will now be next week.