Assessment of Forest Fire Risk in South-Western Region of Bulgaria

The paper presents an assessment of the forest fire risk in the South-Western region of Bulgaria, which is the most densely populated among the country's six geographical regions. Data for the forest fires for the period of 2001-2018 in the whole country are summarized. An analysis is performed about the number of fires, the reason for their appearance and the burnt area. The degree of risk for forest fires in South-Western Bulgaria is determined based on the forest areas' combustibility, the forest fires' density and the magnitude of the fire risk. It was found that the region has a moderate risk for the appearance of forest fires, except Sofia district, where the risk is high. Suggestions for forest fire management in the region are given.