Firefighters are battling a massive blaze in Międzylesie that has consumed 100 hectares of forest, prompting a significant emergency response involving hundreds of personnel and coordinated aerial support.
Escalation of the Fire
The fire was reported on Thursday at 1:37 PM. While initial reports suggested five hectares were affected, Deputy Minister of the Interior Wiesław Leśniakiewicz confirmed during a midnight briefing that the fire had spread to 100 hectares. According to State Forests, the blaze has shifted from a crown fire to a surface fire.
State and Emergency Response
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that authorities are in constant contact, with police Black Hawks and Dromader aircraft deployed. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński reported that 75 vehicles and 400 firefighters from the State Fire Service and Volunteer Fire Service are currently on-site, supported by four specialized forest fire modules.
Reinforcements and Aerial Operations
Operations are set to expand significantly on Friday, with 100 Territorial Defence Force soldiers joining the effort. A Bayraktar drone will be deployed overnight to provide thermal imaging of the fire zone. Aerial operations were paused at nightfall but are scheduled to resume at dawn using three State Forests helicopters, a police Black Hawk, and four Dromader fire-fighting planes.
Regional Coordination and Evacuations
Emergency response includes four platoons from neighboring counties and two specialized fire-fighting companies, Narew and Wisła, each deploying dozens of personnel and roughly 30 vehicles. Police Chief Krzysztof Ogroński confirmed that 42 people have been evacuated from 20 buildings, with six individuals temporarily sheltered at a school in Stanisławów.
Public Safety and Infrastructure
Local authorities have urged residents to limit water usage due to a significant pressure drop in the hydrant network caused by intensive fire-fighting operations. Traffic diversions have been implemented, with movement redirected from the DK 62 and DW 637 routes. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no injuries have been reported.
