WWF urges Bulgaria to buy firefighting planes
Environmental advocates delivered a petition with more than 13,500 signatures to Bulgarian government offices on Thursday, requesting funds for firefighting planes. WWF Bulgaria launched the campaign in July, following parliament’s order for officials to acquire specialized aircraft for the Interior Ministry. The country burned through 30,000 hectares of forest this year, yet lacked dedicated aerial firefighting equipment.
Bulgaria currently borrows military helicopters or requests foreign assistance through European Union emergency protocols when blazes erupt. A Pirin fire this summer consumed tens of thousands of acres over the course of one month and required Swedish planes and helicopters from multiple nations. Economic damage exceeded 16 million leva, without accounting for environmental harm that will take decades to reverse in affected zones.
Greece operates 90 aircraft and helicopters for fire response, while Turkey maintains 26 planes and 105 helicopters for similar missions. Bulgarian authorities planned to make purchases through three separate funding programs but abandoned the effort after agencies failed to agree on management responsibilities. WWF experts said specialized planes carry 2 to 4 times as much water as adapted helicopters and reach remote terrain faster than ground crews.
