A fire burning for two days between the Haskovo villages of Dinevo, Lyubenovo, Malevo and Krivo Pole scorched nearly 10,000 decares (roughly 1,000 hectares) by August 24, 2026, according to Senior Commissioner Mitko Chakalov, director of the Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection in Haskovo, as cited by BTA. Part of the fire reached the territory of the Koren military training range, where no exercises were under way at the time. Authorities said there was no immediate risk to populated areas.
Chakalov said the larger part of the fire's perimeter had been contained. The main front was between the villages of Dinevo and Malevo, with the northern section burning in difficult terrain. Fourteen fire crews were deployed that day, with the possibility of reinforcements. Military personnel, forestry officials, and volunteers also took part, and machinery for cutting firebreaks was expected to be brought in.
The Ministry of Defence said the fire started at an illegal dump near the village of Dinevo. Flames spread through dry grass, shrubs, and forest stands before reaching the Koren training range. A Cougar helicopter from the 24th Aviation Base in Krumovo assisted with aerial firefighting the previous day, though regional authorities said air support was no longer needed at that point.
Haskovo regional governor Todor Ivanov said investigators were still working to confirm the cause. Possible explanations included ignition of dry grass by an electric cable near a reservoir and accidental human-caused fire. Less than two weeks before the blaze, Chakalov had told a meeting at the Haskovo State Forestry territorial unit that 15 people in the region had already been sanctioned for causing fires.
By August 25, the fire had grown to more than 14,000 decares before being contained. Crews worked through the night and brought the northern front under control, according to NOVA. Isolated hotspots remained inside the affected area that morning, and six fire crews continued work to prevent reignition. A partial state of emergency declared for the area remained in force even after the fire was contained. Local authorities said about 2,000 decares were completely destroyed.
