Romanian firefighters intervened to extinguish 8,520 vegetation fires nationwide between June 1 and August 31 this year, 3.2% fewer than in the same period of 2024, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) said on Tuesday, September 23. Western and south-eastern counties saw significant increases, with Arad nearly doubling its number of cases (+94%) and Tulcea, Timiș, Bihor, and Constanța recording rises between 28% and 46%. By contrast, other counties saw steep declines: Vrancea (–50%), Argeș (–43%), Gorj (–36%), Vâlcea (–32%), and Prahova (–16%). In many cases, the leading cause remained human activity, particularly the intentional burning of plant waste to clear land. It requires responsibility and involvement from every citizen,” IGSU said in a statement, reminding that burning stubble and vegetation waste is strictly prohibited and punishable by law.