Risk assessment and early warning of forest fire: case study in mountain region in Bulgaria

In recent years, climate change has contributed to an increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Bulgaria, exerting substantial effects on the environment as well as on the country’s social and economic systems. Forest fires represent the most frequent type of natural disaster affecting Bulgaria. It is used of long-term data (1980–2022) to studied the forest fire and the burnt area for this period. This study also presents an analysis and assessment of forest fires over the period 2010–2020, taking into account the country’s topography and comparing the data with selected European counterparts. Additionally, the work proposes an early warning system based on LoRa radio and infrared cameras which aimed at the prompt detection and reporting of forest fires, particularly in areas with limited technical accessibility. The proposed system is designed to facilitate timely alerts to municipal and regional fire services, enabling a faster and more effective response to mitigate the spread and impact of wildfires.