IGSU continues the intervention in Domogled – Cerna Valley National Park / Over 140 rescuers mobilized to extinguish the fire

Efforts to extinguish the fire in Domogled–Valea Cernei National Park continued on Wednesday, October 7, more than a month after the second blaze broke out. Prolonged drought, rugged terrain and difficult access continue to pose a risk of the fire spreading and complicate operations.

More than 140 firefighters, mountain rescuers, gendarmes, forestry workers and representatives of emergency services worked on Tuesday to locate and contain the fire fronts. The ground operation was supported by two Black Hawk helicopters belonging to the General Aviation Inspectorate, one of which was deployed through the European rescEU reserve. The aircraft carried out 40 water drops and transported teams to hard-to-reach areas.

The fire is burning deep within the litter, forest soil and fallen wood, including at root level. As a result, fire fronts can reignite even in areas considered extinguished. Aerial missions were affected by reduced visibility and the inability to safely draw water from natural sources.

The first fire this summer broke out on August 9 and affected approximately 37 hectares; it was declared extinguished after 14 days. The second was reported on September 2, and the affected area is estimated at around 400 hectares. Ground and aerial operations continue, depending on the fire’s development and weather conditions.