Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski requested assistance from Austria, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and Bulgaria yesterday in the extinguishing of the fire in Bitola, which has taken one life so far. Prime Minister Gruevski left the assembly session last night to go to Bitola.

Macedonian President and Supreme Commander Branko Crvenkovski issued an order for additional Macedonian Army units to be included in the extinguishing of the fire in the Bitola region. A complete battalion from Ohrid and new units from the garrison in Kicevo will be included in the fire-fighting efforts. More army units will be included in this operation, if the need for this arises.