Large Wildfires in Armenia Enter Fourth Day as Thousands Join Firefighting Efforts

Armenia is facing one of its most challenging wildfire situations in recent years, with major fires burning across several provinces and emergency crews working day and night to stop the flames. More than 1,800 rescue workers, firefighters, police officers, and eco-guards are now involved, along with military aircraft and dozens of units of equipment.

The main wildfire started on November 21 in dry grassland between the villages of Chambarak and Ttujur. Strong winds and steep hillsides helped the fire spread quickly across the rugged landscape. Armenia’s emergency services responded with a large operation that has grown each day.

Earlier reports said that more than 1,500 personnel were deployed in the first days of the fire, including 343 firefighters working directly on the front line. Unmanned drones and a military helicopter also joined the efforts, with the helicopter completing 23 water-dropping flights to slow the flames. Officials said the difficult geography and constant wind changes made the situation hard to control.

By the afternoon of November 25, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Rescue Service announced that some progress had been made. According to the agency, “two of the fire hotspots that broke out on November 21 in the Chambarak–Ttujur section of Gegharkunik Province have been extinguished, while work continues intensively at the remaining hotspots.”

The updated data shows the scale of the response has expanded. A total of 1,830 rescue service personnel, 10 police officers, 103 eco-guards, 17 primary and 143 auxiliary units of equipment are now involved. A helicopter from the Ministry of Defense has played a major role in air operations, completing “70 flights” for both reconnaissance and firefighting.

While teams continue their work in Gegharkunik, serious fires are also burning in Tavush Province. Crews are battling flames in the Dilijan “Kazachi” area, near the village of Navur, and in forested zones around the Dilijan bends. Another fire is active near the village of Dzorashen in Shirak Province. More than 300 rescuers, eco-patrol officers, and local volunteers are working to protect the forests around Dilijan National Park, one of Armenia’s most important natural areas.

Officials say no injuries or deaths have been reported so far. Field command centers are coordinating movements of firefighters who are rotating around the clock. Authorities continue to warn people to stay away from the affected regions until the fires are fully contained and conditions become stable.

The Rescue Service has also issued strong warnings to the public about fire safety, especially during agricultural land cleaning. The agency urged residents to stop burning dry grass and farming waste, saying such practices can trigger large and dangerous fires. They reminded the public:

• “Burning stubble damages the soil and reduces its fertility.”

• “Its impact on human health is also negative.”

• “During burning, biodiversity is destroyed or harmed, and the ecosystem’s ability to self-recover is weakened.”

Emergency officials say updates will continue as teams check the fire perimeter, track new hotspots, and monitor weather patterns that could influence the spread. For now, Armenia’s firefighters remain engaged in a difficult fight across multiple provinces, hoping to bring all active fires under control in the coming days.

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