A tragic accident has claimed the life of a firefighting pilot whose aircraft went down while responding to a massive forest fire that has burned through more than 200 hectares in eastern Poland’s protected Solska Forest, according to the nation’s interior minister on Wednesday.
The wildfire ignited Tuesday afternoon close to Kozaki village in Biłgoraj County.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński told Radio Zet that authorities have no indication the blaze was intentionally started.
“We’re dealing with a very dry period. Forests and conifers catch fire very easily, and fire spreads very easily,” he said, noting that police Black Hawk helicopters have been brought in to help fight the flames.
The minister described the situation as continuing to be grave, with several fires burning in remote locations that are difficult to access, and emphasized that the coming hours will be crucial for determining how crews can gain control over the blaze.
A regional governor’s spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that one of the aerial firefighting aircraft crashed in the affected area, resulting in the pilot’s death.
Kierwiński stated that officials are not planning to evacuate local residents at this time, explaining that the closest structures are located four to five kilometers away from the fire zone.
