Wildfires Continue to Ravage Southern Albania: Authorities Battle Flames in Finiq and Surrounding Villages

 Wildfires continue to cause major problems across several parts of Albania, with the southern region of Finiq facing one of the most severe outbreaks. Overnight, multiple fire fronts—fanned by strong winds—posed a direct threat to residents.

Firefighters battling a fire in southern Albania

Minister of Defense, Pirro Vengu, reported that firefighting teams faced a challenging night in several southern villages. “A highly demanding night in Finiq, where municipal firefighting teams from Finiq, Delvinë, Konispol, and Sarandë, supported by five fire engines, 70 Armed Forces personnel, and 20 State Police officers, worked tirelessly to contain the flames,” he said.

The fires have spread to Velahovë, Livinë, Ardhasovë, Bistricë, and Krongj. Due to the immediate danger, residents in Livinë and Ardhasovë were temporarily evacuated. Emergency medical assistance was provided, particularly for the elderly, while operational and volunteer forces worked to protect every home and business at risk.

The situation became even more critical in the early morning hours when flames approached the Bistricë Hydropower Plant. “A successful operation was carried out to prevent the fire from reaching the hydropower plant, and aerial intervention is now expected,” Vengu added.

Traffic on the Muzinë–Bistricë road remains restricted until firefighting operations are complete.

Why This Region is Prone to Wildfires

Southern Albania, along with neighboring countries such as Greece, faces recurring wildfire threats almost every summer. Several factors contribute to this:

• Climate Conditions: Hot, dry summers combined with strong Mediterranean winds create ideal conditions for fires to ignite and spread rapidly.

• Vegetation: The abundance of dry shrubs, pine forests, and grasslands acts as natural fuel for wildfires.

• Topography: Mountainous terrain makes firefighting operations difficult, allowing fires to advance in hard-to-reach areas.

• Human Activity: In many cases, fires start due to agricultural burning, negligence, or in rare cases, deliberate arson.

• Climate Change: Rising temperatures and prolonged drought periods have intensified the frequency and severity of wildfires in recent years.

This combination of natural and human factors means that even a small spark can escalate into a dangerous wildfire, putting lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems at risk. The events in Finiq are a stark reminder of the need for better prevention measures, rapid response capabilities, and regional cooperation in firefighting efforts. ut Albanian wildfires.