A large forest fire broke out on Thursday afternoon in the Wołomin County, located near the Polish capital. Due to dry weather and gusty winds, the fire began to spread rapidly through the forest area. Significant forces have been mobilized to extinguish the blaze. According to Poland's Minister of the Interior, Marcin Kerwiński, more than 460 firefighters and 75 units of special equipment are involved in the operation. From the air, police aviation is supporting the fight against the fire. A Black Hawk helicopter equipped with a 3,000-liter tank is being used to drop water. As the fire spreads, authorities have taken additional safety measures. Two settlements have been evacuated, one of which is already located in the neighboring Mińsk County. The section of national road No. 50 between the settlements of Stanisławów and Łochów has also been temporarily closed. Traffic has been redirected along regional and local routes. Such fires in Central Europe are increasingly complicated by a combination of prolonged dry periods and windy weather. Under these conditions, the fire can spread significantly faster than usual. What is important to know: at this time, the main focus of the rescue services is on protecting the settlements and preventing the further spread of the fire to residential areas. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that he is monitoring the situation's development. According to him, the main task remains ensuring the safety of residents and stabilizing the situation in the fire-affected area. Rescue services continue their work, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation in the affected region.