Flames engulfed a vehicle scrapyard near Plovdiv’s outer ring road on Thursday, destroying over 100 cars and triggering a major firefighting response as thick black smoke drifted across the city and into nearby villages.
The blaze erupted around 12:20 p.m. At a scrapyard handling old vehicles, where accumulated oils, fuels and tires intensified the fire. Eight fire units arrived from Plovdiv, with two additional units dispatched from Asenovgrad, supported by local volunteer firefighters. By mid-afternoon, authorities confirmed the fire was contained, though not before it consumed the scrapyard’s garage, storage halls, and machinery.
No human injuries were reported, but one guard dog perished in the flames. The scrapyard owner’s home was also destroyed, according to BNT News. Fire officials emphasized that the blaze did not spread to adjacent industrial zones, including a nearby bus depot serving Plovdiv’s public transit lines, despite initial concerns about wind-driven flames reaching warehouses and workshops.
Air quality monitors deployed to the site detected no contamination, a finding affirmed by Plovdiv’s fire chief, Chief Commissioner Vasil Dimov. The smoke, however, was visible from multiple parts of the city, including the center, and carried toward the villages of Branipole, Brestnik, and Belahtsa, prompting alerts from drivers on the Kuklen Road.
Investigators have not yet determined the cause, though BNT News reported the fire may have originated from ignited dry grass in a neighboring property. Officials from 24 Chasa noted the situation remained unchanged as of late afternoon, with fire crews still on scene monitoring for flare-ups.
How many fire units responded to the blaze?
Eight fire units from Plovdiv and two from Asenovgrad were deployed, supported by local volunteer firefighters.
Was there any risk to public transportation infrastructure?
Fire officials confirmed there was no danger to the bus depot serving Plovdiv’s public transit lines, despite the fire’s proximity.
What caused the fire?
The cause remains under investigation, though one report suggests it may have started from dry grass ignited in a neighboring property.