After several days of battling the blaze, firefighters are now extinguishing the remaining hotspots in the Solska Forest in eastern Poland. However, social media has been captivated by a striking image of one tree in the fire-ravaged woodland.
The fire in Biłgoraj County broke out on Tuesday. At the peak of the firefighting operation, more than a thousand people were involved, including firefighters, foresters, police officers, and Territorial Defense soldiers. Helicopters and firefighting aircraft were also deployed to combat the blaze.
Firefighters are now focused on extinguishing remaining hotspots and monitoring the burned area. Over several days, approximately 300 hectares of forest were destroyed, while the total operational area covered about 1,200 hectares south of the town of Józefów.
“Firefighters are combing through the forest, checking for sources of fire, digging them out, dousing them with water, and monitoring the burned area. The fire is not spreading – the situation is under control,” said the spokesperson for the District Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Biłgoraj, Mateusz Małyszek.
One of the photos from the burned forest has gone viral on social media – showing a tree with a small shrine that remained untouched by the flames. The photos were taken by firefighters from the Volunteer Fire Department in Majdan Górny, who were operating in the affected area.