Chornobyl Exclusion Zone wildfire spreads as land mines hamper crews
Source: Scripps News
Posted 1:56 PM, May 08, 2026
Firefighters are battling a massive wildfire in Ukraine’s Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
The fire has spread to more than 1,100 hectares, fueled by dry weather and strong winds. Parts of the area are inaccessible because of land mines left by Russian forces after the 2022 invasion.
Amid the crisis, firefighters rescued an orphaned moose calf — an endangered species — after it lost its mother in the blaze. Denis Nesterov, director of the Chornobyl Nature Reserve, said gusty winds have made firefighting efforts more difficult. He said 331 personnel and 75 pieces of equipment are involved in the “elimination of the emergency situation.”
“Despite challenging conditions, strong winds, difficult-to-reach terrain and danger from explosive objects, localization and fire control work continues without interruption,” Nesterov said.The area was also the site of a major wildfire in 2020 that destroyed numerous historic attractions.
Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/world/europe/chornobyl-exclusion-zone-wildfire-spreads-as-land-mines-hamper-crews
This is the season for it and they have wildfires in that area frequently, but with the area mined (by Russia before they left after occupying it) and in the exclusion zone, it's all the more difficult.
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