The firefighting effort in Kruja continued throughout the night as strong winds complicated operations in the mountainous area near Albania’s capital, Tirana. Around 300 personnel from the Albanian Armed Forces, emergency services and fire departments took part in efforts to contain the blaze.
Türkiye’s drone supports aerial operation
Albanian authorities deployed a range of aerial and ground equipment during the response. The operation included 21 fire engines operated by the National Civil Protection Agency, three helicopters, a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle and two UAVs equipped with thermal-imaging capabilities.
The use of Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB2 added an aerial surveillance and monitoring capability to the firefighting operation, supporting efforts to track the spread of the fire during the night.
No injuries reported after fire is contained
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the blaze destroyed a warehouse but did not result in injuries among residents. In a statement shared on X, Rama praised firefighters, military personnel and police officers involved in the operation, saying aerial firefighting resources were used throughout the night because of the wind.
Authorities suspect human involvement
Albania’s Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari visited the area and followed the response on the ground. Lamallari said the fire was not believed to have originated from natural causes and instead pointed to human activity. Police have detained a suspect in connection with the blaze.
Wildfire risk remains high in parts of Albania
The latest fire comes as Albania faces elevated wildfire risks during the summer period. The country’s Institute of Geological Sciences said Sunday that several areas remained under a “high” wildfire risk designation, underscoring the continued threat of new fires despite the containment of the Kruja blaze.