Poland Forest Fire Spreads 300 Hectares, Firefighting Plane Crashes, 1 Pilot Killed
A large-scale forest fire in Poland's Lublin Voivodeship has spread to 300 hectares, and a firefighting plane crashed during operations, killing one pilot. Strong winds continue to make the fire difficult to control. The Minister of Interior and Administration is on-site to direct efforts and prevent further disaster.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 09:14
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 09:31 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 10:25 (54 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Cheng Ching-yu, Warsaw, 7th exclusive report) A large-scale forest fire broke out in Poland's Lublin Voivodeship on the afternoon of the 5th. During firefighting operations, a firefighting plane accidentally crashed, resulting in the tragic death of one pilot. The fire, affected by strong winds, is still not fully under control, and the affected area has expanded to 300 hectares. The Polish Minister of Interior and Administration has arrived on-site to command and coordinate efforts, striving to prevent the disaster from escalating.
The fire started on the afternoon of the 5th in the Józefów forest area of Biłgoraj County (Powiat Biłgorajski) in southeastern Poland. The affected area has now reached 300 hectares.
According to an announcement from the Polish National Fire Service, due to the difficult terrain and the rapid spread of the fire as a "crown fire" type, where flames quickly spread through treetops, the fire has expanded rapidly.
Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński personally commanded the response center. He stated that although some fire lines have been brought under control, strong winds on the morning of the 6th created new ignition points, making the situation still severe and challenging.
As of now, the Polish National Fire Service has mobilized over 100 fire brigades and 300 firefighters for the rescue effort.
Due to the rugged terrain deep within the forest, ground forces have difficulty directly reaching the fire's center. Currently, aerial firefighting is the primary method, with multiple helicopters and firefighting planes continuously dropping water.
On the evening of the 5th, a "Dromader" firefighting plane unfortunately crashed during a firefighting mission, and one pilot died on the spot. Prosecutors and the Aviation Accident Investigation Commission have intervened to investigate the exact circumstances of the crash.
Poland's mainstream news website "Onet" reported that Kierwiński stated at the latest press conference that the fire is currently about 4 to 5 kilometers from the nearest residential areas, and there is no immediate need for mandatory evacuation orders.
The Government Security Center (Rządowe Centrum Bezpieczeństwa, RCB) has sent emergency alerts to the administrative districts of Łukowa, Józefów, and Aleksandrów in Biłgoraj County, urging residents to close windows and reduce outdoor activities to avoid dense smoke.
The authorities also urged the public to prepare important documents and regular medications in advance and remain highly vigilant to respond to any evacuation orders that may arise due to changes in wind direction. (Edited by Chen Cheng-kung) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Cheng Ching-yu, Warsaw, 7th exclusive report) A large-scale forest fire broke out in Poland's Lublin Voivodeship on the afternoon of the 5th. During firefighting operations, a firefighting plane accidentally crashed, resulting in the tragic death of one pilot. The fire, affected by strong winds, is still not fully under control, and the affected area has expanded to 300 hectares. The Polish Minister of Interior and Administration has arrived on-site to command and coordinate efforts, striving to prevent the disaster from escalating.
The fire started on the afternoon of the 5th in the Józefów forest area of Biłgoraj County (Powiat Biłgorajski) in southeastern Poland. The affected area has now reached 300 hectares.
According to an announcement from the Polish National Fire Service, due to the difficult terrain and the rapid spread of the fire as a "crown fire" type, where flames quickly spread through treetops, the fire has expanded rapidly.
Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński personally commanded the response center. He stated that although some fire lines have been brought under control, strong winds on the morning of the 6th created new ignition points, making the situation still severe and challenging.
As of now, the Polish National Fire Service has mobilized over 100 fire brigades and 300 firefighters for the rescue effort.
Due to the rugged terrain deep within the forest, ground forces have difficulty directly reaching the fire's center. Currently, aerial firefighting is the primary method, with multiple helicopters and firefighting planes continuously dropping water.
On the evening of the 5th, a "Dromader" firefighting plane unfortunately crashed during a firefighting mission, and one pilot died on the spot. Prosecutors and the Aviation Accident Investigation Commission have intervened to investigate the exact circumstances of the crash.
Poland's mainstream news website "Onet" reported that Kierwiński stated at the latest press conference that the fire is currently about 4 to 5 kilometers from the nearest residential areas, and there is no immediate need for mandatory evacuation orders.
The Government Security Center (Rządowe Centrum Bezpieczeństwa, RCB) has sent emergency alerts to the administrative districts of Łukowa, Józefów, and Aleksandrów in Biłgoraj County, urging residents to close windows and reduce outdoor activities to avoid dense smoke.
The authorities also urged the public to prepare important documents and regular medications in advance and remain highly vigilant to respond to any evacuation orders that may arise due to changes in wind direction. (Edited by Chen Cheng-kung) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.