Following two major forest fires in southeastern Poland on Tuesday, meteorological experts have warned of an “extreme” fire risk due to high temperatures and strong winds.
“Extreme Threat” of Forest Fires in Parts of Poland
On Tuesday, May 5, two forest fires broke out in southeastern Poland. Around 11:00 AM, flames were spotted near Krosno in the Podkarpackie region, where services contained the situation within hours. Later that afternoon, a fire erupted near the village of Kozaki in the Lubelskie region, within the Józefów forest district, quickly consuming over 150 hectares of forest.
The threat of forest fires persists. While more favorable forecasts for Wednesday, May 6, apply only to western and northern Poland with lower temperatures and continuous rain, the situation remains critical in the east and southeast. Dangerous weather is expected in southern Podlasie, eastern Mazovia, and the eastern and southern counties of the Lubelskie and Podkarpackie provinces.
Unfavorable Forecasts for Southeastern Poland
IMGW stated that in the afternoon, the threat of forest fires in this area will be extremely high due to temperatures exceeding 25°C, lack of cloud cover, and strong winds reaching gusts of 60-70 km/h.
The situation could be improved by rain, but only passing showers and thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday. Nationwide rain is possible on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, which should decrease the fire threat as temperatures drop.
Pilot Killed
During firefighting operations, a Dromader firefighting aircraft crashed, resulting in the death of the pilot. Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński reported on Wednesday morning that the forest fire in Roztocze has stopped spreading. The fire may have covered up to 250 hectares, and the situation remains “serious.” Firefighting efforts involve helicopters, including Black Hawks, as aerial operations are considered crucial.
