Fire raged through warehouses in the city of Plovdiv

A big fire burnt at old warehouses for construction materials in Bulgaria’s second largest city of Plovdiv on May 7. Fire firefighters with 10 fire engines spent more than five hours tackling the flames, which covered an area of more than five decares.

No one was injured, but the material damage is serious. For several hours, thick plumes of stifling smoke billowed over two residential neighbourhoods in the city.

The fire is now completely extinguished. However, a team of firefighters remains on duty on site to prevent possible new outbreaks, in cases there are still unextinguished particles.

The strong wind and flammable materials in the warehouse made the work of the firefighters very difficult. Due to the suffocating smoke, which twisted like a huge gray veil in the area, a mobile measuring station of the regional environment inspection authority was immediately sent. It currently measures the air quality, checking for exceedances in the norms of 26 hazardous substances. The results will be ready tomorrow. Until the results are ready, residents are advised to not leave windows open.

There has not been such fire on such huge area and with such power in Plovdiv region for a long time, firefighters commented.

Commissioner Georgi Mangarakov, head of the firefighting service in Plovdiv: We extinguished the fire and did not allow to spread outside the territory it had covered. Fortunately, no firefighters were injured, the smoke was huge.

The signal for the fire in the large warehouse was reported shortly before midday on May 7. Initially, four teams were sent to the place. However, the flames were so powerful that more firefighters and 6 more fire engines had to be dispatched. All warehouse workers were evacuated.

The head of the fire fighting service said that the fire has destroyed most of the warehouses. The brining was so intense that the reinforced concrete roof collapsed. The temperature at the height of the fire was 1200 degrees, he added.

The causes for the fire are still being clarified. Plovdiv District Prosecutor's Office initiated pre-trial proceedings for causing a fire by negligence.

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