In the conditions of an energy crisis, when alternative ways of heating homes are sought due to a shortage or high price of energy, a heating season is expected in which any type of fuel will be used, which increases the possibility of fires. An additional challenge is the uncleaned chimneys and the inappropriate use of fireplaces.

The Territorial Fire Fighting Unit of the City of Skopje expects an increase in the number of interventions in closed spaces. In a statement to MIA, the commander of the Territorial Fire Fighting Unit of the City of Skopje, Zvonko Tomeski, appeals not to improvise, to be careful when handling the heating stoves and to clean the chimneys on time.

- Mild weather conditions still prevail and we do not have intensive heating of the homes, but we expect that there will be an increase in the number of interventions, especially on fires in fireplaces and flues. We appeal in time, while the heating of the homes is not yet intense, to clean the flues and not to leave flammable substances and an unnecessary amount of heating material around the heating furnace, says Tomeski.

The number of interventions by the fire service in the capital is currently within the annual average (1.200 per year), but there is a noticeable increase in the number of indoor fires, which, as Tomeski points out, comprise more than two-thirds of the total number of fires.

- In 99 percent of cases, the cause of fires is the human factor. We appeal for all deficiencies to be removed as soon as possible because, bearing in mind that it is an energy crisis, we expect a heating season in which everything will be burned. People will try to keep warm, says Tomeski.

At the last public call for training of chimney sweeps, only six candidates registered

Given that, according to the announcements, the most severe winter in recent years is not expected and that all combustible material will be burned to heat the homes, MIA requested an answer from the City of Skopje as to how many people have been trained so far from the public calls for chimney sweeps that the city has implemented in the past years .

From there, they informed us that 25 chimney sweeps have been trained so far, and at the last call, only six candidates were registered for whom the training is in progress, which would bring the total number to 31.

- The City of Skopje this year in cooperation with the twinned City of Nuremberg, financially supported by the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany, additional training of six candidates for chimney sweeps in SUGS "Zdravko Cvetkovski" in Skopje and practice in cooperation with experienced chimney sweeps from Germany. In the last two weeks of November, practice is conducted at the Chimneys Training Center in Milbach, Germany, which will be followed by practice in the field by sharing experiences from chimney companies in Hersbruck, Germany, the City of Skopje told MIA.

The public call from the City for the use of subsidies for the annual maintenance and cleaning of the chimneys is also ongoing. Since June 22, when the call was announced, more than 250 requests have been submitted. The opportunity to apply lasts until the 30th of this month, and the subsidies apply to the residents of the city of Skopje, i.e. from the municipalities of Aerodrom, Gazi Baba, Kisela Voda, Karposh, Chair, Shuto Orizari, Centar, Gjorce Petrov, Butel and Saraj.