Albania’s government has stepped up emergency measures to combat wildfires threatening residential areas, protected zones, and national parks, as high temperatures and heatwaves increase the risk of new outbreaks in the coming days, the defence ministry said on July 22.

Defence Minister Pirro Vengu led an extraordinary meeting of the Civil Protection Committee, which includes ministers, prefects, mayors, and security officials, to coordinate rapid response measures and strengthen local wildfire preparedness.

“The most critical situation is in Dukat, where special attention is required for the protection of inhabited areas. Increased care is also needed in Kurbin-Shkopet-Milot and the Lura National Park,” Vengu said in a statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku urged prefects and mayors to ensure maximum engagement of local firefighting structures, while the committee decided to increase readiness across the country.

The heightened alert follows a successful overnight operation to extinguish wildfires threatening homes in Belsh, central Albania, after a coordinated intervention by local firefighting units, army personnel and two helicopters. Firefighting teams remain on the ground to prevent flare-ups, authorities said.

Following Albania’s request to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Italy has deployed troops and two Canadair firefighting aircraft to support operations in the Lura National Park, while Greece has sent two Canadair planes to assist in tackling fires near Dukat, in the southern Vlora region.

The National Civil Protection Agency is continuing to monitor and manage wildfires across Albania, prioritising the protection of citizens, homes, and property.

Last week, Vengu inspected progress on transforming a former military facility in Bushat, northern Albania, into a Regional Civil Emergency Centre to strengthen wildfire and natural disaster response capacity in the Shkodra and Lezha regions.

“The centre will serve as a coordination node for responding to fires, floods and other natural disasters, particularly in tourism-intensive areas between Shëngjin and Velipoja,” Vengu said.

The new facility, part of broader efforts to modernise Albania’s civil protection infrastructure, is expected to reinforce rapid and coordinated emergency responses amid rising climate-related risks and extreme heat events in the country.