Energy, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Lithuania

As reported, the State Fire and Rescue Service yesterday received a request from Lithuania to help battle a forest fire which has broken out in Lithuania's Curonian Split, LETA was informed by State Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Inga Vetere.

The State Fire and Rescue Service acted on the request and initially sent one National Armed Forces helicopter to help battle the blaze.

The NAF helicopter is already at the scene assisting in efforts to put out the blaze.

The fire, which has broken out in Lithuania's scenic Curonian Split, which is also included on UNESCO's World Heritage List, broken out today in a forested area. Putting out the blaze is being hampered by changeable winds.

A state of emergency has been declared in the local Neringa parish.

The fire, which has broken out in Lithuania's scenic Curonian Split, which is also included on UNESCO's World Heritage List, broken out today in a forested area. Putting out the blaze is being hampered by changeable winds.

Lithuania's Minister of Environment Valentinas Mazuronis turned to Poland for assistance in fighting the fire in the Curonian Spit.

Due to the fire, Minister Mazuronis, as well as Minister of the Interior Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas have called off their meetings, planned in Western Lithuania, and at present are on their way to the scene.

As a fire is spreading fast, additional measures to extinguish it are taken. On the behalf of the Ministry of Environment, the Directorate General of State Forests has turned to its colleagues in Poland. A special aviation unit to fight forest fires is deployed in Bialystok region.

At present an aircraft with 2 tonnes of water is on its way from Bialystok to the Curonian Spit.

According to news portal VE.lt, around 30 hectares of land have been engulfed in fire. Firefighters have difficulties with fighting the fire, as it is difficult to reach the fire site and there are problems with water supply.