07.05.2026 05:07
A fire continuing in Poland's eastern Solska Forest has spread across 250 hectares, and a plane involved in firefighting efforts crashed, killing the pilot. Authorities said the fire will take at least another day to extinguish, adding that the smoke poses a danger to local residents.
In the Solska Forest in eastern Poland, a fire that continues to rage has spread across 250 hectares, and a plane participating in firefighting efforts crashed, killing the pilot.
According to Polish public broadcaster TVP World, the fire, which started yesterday, is ongoing near the village of Kozaki in the Bilgoraj district, located within the Lublin region in eastern Poland.
The fire has spread to approximately 250 hectares in the Solska Forest, one of Poland's largest forest complexes.
FIRE WILL BE TACKLED WITH ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said air support would be critical in extinguishing the fire. Kierwinski emphasized that operations could continue for "at least another day." Polish Fire Service Chief Wojciech Kruczek stated that teams were rotated after working through the night and that reinforcements from other regions had arrived.
Kruczek noted that a Black Hawk helicopter, aircraft belonging to the state forest services, and additional air vehicles would join the efforts during the day.
100 HECTARES OF AREA DAMAGED
Authorities, reporting that the nearest settlements are about 6 kilometers away, warned that the smoke poses a danger to residents. Officials stated that at least 100 hectares of land have already been damaged.
Meanwhile, a firefighting plane involved in the operation crashed, and the pilot lost their life in the accident. The cause of the fire is not yet known.