Operations Aspects in the Republic of Macedonia

Aix-en-Provence 10th - 11th April 2013,

France

Operations Aspects in the Republic of Macedonia

Nikola Nikolov, PhD Regional South East Europe / Caucasus Fire Monitoring Center

C/o Faculty of Forestry, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

Directorate for protection and rescue

• The Republic of Macedonia is situated in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. The distance from the Aegean sea is approx. 60 km and from the Adriatic see approx. 80 km.

• Neighbouring countries:

- on the west, Albania

- on the south, Greece

- on the east, Bulgaria

- on the north, Serbia

• Population: 1,945,932 (1994)

• Total area: 25,713 km2

2 zonal climates: mediterranean and temperate-eastern continental Temperature: mean annual : 10,52 oC abs.max: + 45,9 oC abs.min.: -31,5 oC Precipitations: annual - 661,36 mm summer period – 127.84 mm

C L I M A T E

Forest and forest land - 1 140 000 ha (unpublished data)

- covered with forest - 87.4%

- forest land - 12.6 %

- in state property - 89%

- in private property - 11%

FOREST AREA [ha]

Although it is relatively small in the territory it is nevertheless characterized by a

very heterogeneous climate, orography and vegetation.

From the climatic and phytocenological aspect the following climate-vegetation

zones can be differentiated in the Republic of Macedonia:

1. Submediteranian region - ass Querco-Carpinetum orientalis Oberdemend Ht.

2. Continental- Submediteranian region - ass Querco-Carpinetum orientalis macedonicum Rudski apud Ht.

3. Warm continental region - ass Quercetum frainetto-cerris macedonicum Oberd Emend Ht.

4. Cold continental region - ass Orno-Quercetum petraeae Em.

5. Submountainous region

- ass Festuco heterophylle-Fagetum Em.

6. High continental mountainous region - ass Calamintho grandiflorae-Fagetum Em.

7. Subalpine mountainous region - ass Fagetum subalpinum scardo pindicum Em.

- ass Picetum subalpinum scardicum Em.

- ass Myrtillo-Pinetum pencis subass. Subalpinum Em.

- ass Pinetum mudhi macedonicum Em.

- ass Junipero-Bruckentalium Ht.

8. Alpine mountainous region - grass associations above 2 250 m a.s.l.

Hydrography Rivers - 35 Natural lakes - 3 Reservoirs - > 125

2012 – Four fatalities

Forest fires Year Number

of fires

Burned area

(ha)

Burned timber

mass (m3)

Suppression

fees (euro)

Total fees

(euro)

1999 69 2 414,80 1 950,0 32 512,00 372 .921

2000 476 46 235,73 711 782,00 976 142,00 15. 642. 775

2001 161 6 263,30 88 260,00 66 810,81 9. 851. 849

2002 65 1 186,30 24 661,28 15 193,10 298. 902

2003 144 1 068,88 10 987,00 44 607,87 251. 527

2004 94 892,05 4 322,30 23 214,55 1. 469. 090

2005 182 1 368,00 1 063,00 42 018, 11 411 .181

2006 138 2 085,95 12 978,00 45 311,20 2. 437. 914

2007 652 35 248,6 617 678,67 386 852,46 21. 494. 700

2008 323 10 143,1 53 055,6 96 278,69 4. 612. 377

2009 38 197,00 756,50 313,627.00 5.812.889

2010 64 1,112.50 5 000,00 985.455.00 90.000

2011 390 20 856,8 65 042,8 400 153,00 1 .719 . 105

2012 385 19964,9 155 126,00 410 323,00 4.248.828

Total 2 791 128 181,1 1 687 620.35 3 438 345.79 66. 994. 953

Average 199,4 9 155,8 120 544.3 245 596,12 4. 785. 353

Country Aircrafts engaged

domestic received assistance

Albania 2 – airplanes AN-2 2 – helicopters

Armenia

Azarbedjan

Bosnia and Hrzegovina

Bulgaria 1 - Il-76

Croatia 4- CL-415

1- AT

6-helicopters (Mi-8)

Greece 23- airplanes

18 - helicopters

Macedonia

1- airplane (Zlin 242 L)

3- airplanes (AN-2)

2- helicopters ( Mi-17)

1- helicopter ()

2- airplanes ( CL-415, 32)

2 – helicopters ( 412 and UH 1D)

Romania

Serbia 1- Il-76

Slovenia

Turkey 20-airplanes

29-helicopters

Ukraine 1-airplane (AN-32)

1-helicopter (Mi-2)

Total 27-aireplanes

37-helicopters

27-airplanes

22-helicopters

Mi-17 (3)

Mi- 8 (3)

Bambi Buckets: 3 - 2,0 t 2 - 2,5 t 1 – 3,0 t

Mi-171 (1)

Ministry of internal affairs

Department of aviation activities (DAA)

Protection and rescue directorate Government of the Republic of Macedonia

• 3 Airplanes AT-802A FIRE BOSS

DAA was established on 01st of February 2010

Equipped with Wipline 10000 amphibious floats by Wipaire Inc.

DAA Personnel:

– 6 Pilots,

– 2 Aviation engineers

– 2 Coordinators

– 4 Maintenance technicians

– 2 Administrators

Position of DAA in the organizational structure of DPR

Director General

Sector for

common

affairs

Sector for

analysis and

development

Sector for

planning,

organization and

implementation

of measures

for protection

and rescue

and training

Sector

for

operation

and

logistics

Department

for

inspection

Aerial

Work

Aviation

Department

Deputy director

Department of aviation activities

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE DAA

Chief of AWAD

Pilots Department

Maintenance Department

Coordinators

Deputy Administrator

DAA

Trainings For Pilots: 1. Como – Italy, from 14.04 to 03.05.2010 2. Valencia – Spain, from 03.05 to 17.05.2010 3. Skopje Airport – Macedonia, from 10.06 to 14.06.2010 4. Ohrid Lake – Macedonia, from 16.06. to 23.06.2010 For Technical staff: 1. Valencia – Spain , from 25.04. to 09.05.2010

Engagement of the aerial forces

-2010-

Number of forest fires: 64 Number of flights: 142 / 40:25 h Water dropped: 338 t Number of fires/locations treated: 9

-2011-

Number of forest fires: 390 Number of flights: 626 / 250:45 h Water dropped: 1565 t Number of fires/locations treated: 20

-2012-

Number of forest fires: 385 Number of flights: 1248 / 465 h Water dropped: 3120 t Number of fires/locations treated: 29

Positive experiences:

1. Well trained and experienced pilots and coordinators;

2. High efficiency in case of short distance from the fire to water supply reservoir (lake); 3. High efficiency in case of early phase of the forest fires (on the beginning of the fires - initial attack); 4. High efficiency in case of well coordinated action with ground forces.

Negative experiences:

1. Insufficient number of pilots and airplanes; - 2012: Landing without properly set up wheels and damaging of the airplane during water filling from the lake.

2. Low efficiency in case of long distance from the fire to water supply reservoir (lake);

3. There is no trained ground staff (fire fighters) for joint action; 4. Low efficiency in case of bad coordinated action with ground forces; 5. Lack of the training for the coordinators and pilots (forest fire behavior); 6. The role of the airplanes in the system of forest fire protection is not clear and defined; 7. There is no assessment and analysis after the fire/s and fire season; 8. UXO

Thanks for your attention!