A rapidly spreading wildfire in the Masovia region has prompted emergency evacuations in Ołdakowizna as dozens of fire brigades, specialized drone units, and police aircraft battle to contain the blaze.
Origin and Rapid Spread
At 1:33 p.m., a surveillance camera tower detected smoke, identifying the start of a fire on private land that had recently been under cultivation. The local district forester, Piotr Serafin, explained that strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly into State Forests territory, which consists primarily of post-war pine plantations. By Thursday evening, the fire had engulfed several dozen hectares, with officials suspecting potential arson.
Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Wiesław Szczepański reported that the fire moved across the treetops, making it an aerial firefighting priority. He noted that due to a lack of rainfall, the forest floor and trees are extremely dry, creating dangerous conditions for further spread.
Evacuation and Emergency Response
Kinga Sosińska, Mayor of the Stanisławów municipality, confirmed that an evacuation of Ołdakowizna was underway, with police transporting residents to a local primary school. The operation involves 65 fire brigades, specialized firefighting modules from Poznań, Lublin, Łódź, and Olsztyn, and aerial support including Dromader planes and a police Black Hawk helicopter.
Police Action and Traffic Management
The Metropolitan Police Commander initiated a special operation, deploying additional forces from Warsaw and the traffic department to secure the area and ensure clear access for emergency vehicles. Officials also halted traffic on the DK50 road between Stanisławów and Łochów due to the unpredictable movement of the fire.
Police aviation units are actively participating in the suppression efforts, utilizing a 3,000-liter Bambi Bucket water tank to assist firefighters on the ground. A drone group from the National Headquarters of the State Fire Service has also been deployed to monitor the situation.
