The massive fire that erupted Wednesday afternoon at a plastic processing facility in Sofia has been brought under control, according to Alexander Dzhartov, Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, although firefighters continue working to fully extinguish isolated hot spots.
Speaking after the incident, Dzhartov said the blaze had been localized by around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and that firefighting operations were continuing with four fire engines remaining at the site after five crews worked through the night. He acknowledged that nearby fire hydrants did not provide sufficient water but stressed that emergency teams had anticipated such a scenario and were prepared to respond. The exact cause of the fire, which destroyed warehouse facilities, remains under investigation.
Authorities also sought to reassure residents over concerns about air pollution. Dzhartov said four air quality measurements had been carried out by the fire service's chemical monitoring unit, including three around the fire scene and one in the Lyulin district. "No values exceeding the permitted standards have been recorded," he said.
The Sofia Municipality announced that its mobile air quality monitoring station will remain near the site for the next two weeks, conducting daily measurements to ensure continued public safety.
