Albania: Wildfire brought under control in Albania’s Kruja as Bayraktar TB2 joins response.

RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY” MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — HANDOUT —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST: TIRANA, ALBANIA (AUG. 09, 2026) (ALBANIAN MEDIA AND INFORMATION AGENCY - RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS OF NIGHT SHOTS WHILE FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISHING BLAZE 2. HEAVY SMOKE RISING FROM FOREST AREA 3. CIVIL DEFENSE CREW HELPING PEOPLE AFFECTED FROM FIRETIRANA, ALBANIA - AUGUST 09: A wildfire affecting residential areas in the central Albanian city of Kruja was brought under control after a major firefighting operation, with a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle also taking part in the response on August 9. Several fires have broken out in different parts of Albania in recent days, including in and around the mountainous city of Kruja near the capital Tirana. Around 300 personnel from the Armed Forces, civil emergency units and the Fire Service took part in firefighting efforts that continued through Saturday night. The operation included aerial support, with 21 fire trucks belonging to the National Civil Protection Agency, three helicopters, one Bayraktar TB2 drone and two thermal imaging drones deployed in the area. Some residents were evacuated from settlements affected by the blaze. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said after the fire was brought under control that only one warehouse had burned and no local resident was injured. Rama said firefighting equipment was used from the air overnight due to strong winds on Mount Kruja, adding that fire, military and police units had worked with great professionalism to prevent a tragic outcome during the hot summer period. Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari also followed the response efforts at the scene. Lamallari told the press that the fire was caused by human action rather than natural reasons, adding that police had detained a suspect. The Albanian Institute of Geosciences said a high fire risk continued in some cities.