Fire sources still present in Borjomi – Interior Ministry

The Georgian Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that fire sources still remained in central-western Borjomi municipality, where the blaze erupted last Friday. 

In its comments, the Ministry stated that 1,200 professionals, including 300 firefighters and others from the Defence, Interior and Regional Development ministries, were present at the scene to combat the fire, noting that roadworks were ongoing due to difficult terrain. 

Four helicopters of the Border Police were also trying to extinguish the fire.

Several local media outlets said  earlier this week that the helicopters were involved in the process of extinguishing the fire only on the third day, when the fire had already spread over tens of hectares and approached settlements.

In the forest fund under the National Forestry Agency, 617 cases of fire were recorded in 2007-2021, which destroyed a total of 7,244 hectares of forest. 

The most cases of fire were registered in 2020, and the largest area was burned in 2017 (1299.9 ha) and 2008 (1277.5 ha).