Firefighters battle massive fire in Polish national park
Over 300 firefighters have been battling a fire which engulfed some 450 hectares of the Biebrza National Park in north-eastern Poland, the fire service has reported.
With a total area of 65,000 hectares, the park is the largest national park in Poland. It is home to rare marshlands and hundreds of bird species as well as lynx, wolves, otters, beavers and elks.
The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon on dry meadows and reeds.
"The fire is not located yet, but it's not spreading and it's important news," Jacek Brzozowski, the province governor, told reporters on Monday, adding that the fire posed no threat people living in nearby areas.
Pawel Frysztak, deputy chief commander of the State Fire Service, explained that if a fire is located, firefighters have full control over it.
"At the moment I can't say that yet," he said.
On Sunday, Brzozowski set up a crisis team at the request of the Province State Fire Service commander.
Helicopters and an aircraft have been deployed to help contain the disaster.
It is not yet known how the fire started. (PAP)
jd/at/ ał/
