Podgorica, (MINA) – Several small wildfires are currently active in Montenegro, in Podgorica, Danilovgrad and Niksic, said head of the Operational Affairs Directorate in the Rescue and Protection Directorate Radomir Scepanovic.

He told the press conference of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) that all teams are prepared and remain on the ground monitoring the fires.

In Podgorica, according to Scepanovic, the fires are active in Bioce and in the village of Milunovici.

According to Scepanovic, Montenegro currently has seven firefighting aircraft at their disposal, five domestic and helicopters from the Czech Republic and Serbia.

Responding to a journalist’s question about working conditions, Scepanovic announced that this year six small-capacity fire engines will be purchased for initiation response in rural areas, while, through the project with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, 13 more vehicles will be procured.

He said that the Government should allocate more funds because, as he said, most local governments do not have sufficient resources.

When asked about the overtime payments, Scepanovic said that firefighters must be compensated, and if not, “the officers can seek justice in court”.

Head of the Department for Training and Operational Activities, Milan Radovic, speaking about the international assistance, said that the stay of foreign firefighters has been extended for preventive reasons.

“And also to allow our firefighters to have at least one day of rest, and return to regular shifts”, added Radovic.