RIGA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian government on Monday decided to seek international support as rescuers continued to battle a major wildfire that has been devastating large swathes of forest and peatland in western Latvia since last Tuesday.
Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis told reporters that Latvia needs additional aerial support in tackling the blaze and would ask for three helicopters and possibly also firefighters.
The request will be made to all 28 members of the European Union (EU), the minister said.
Agriculture minister Janis Duklavs, who is currently standing in as prime minister, explained that the additional aircraft are necessary as the Latvian and Lithuanian air force helicopters involved in the firefighting effort need maintenance.
"Our air force helicopters need a break. The maintenance will take some time and we will have to ask neighbor countries for help," Duklavs said.
Inta Palkavniece, a spokeswoman for the Latvian State Fire and Rescue Service, said that neighbor countries Lithuania and Estonia have already promised to send their firefighters to western Latvia if necessary.
She also informed that although the fire in Valgale municipality in the western Latvian district of Talsi was contained within a certain territory flames were still expanding inside the perimeter.
Oskars Abolins, head of the Fire and Rescue Service, said that the situation is currently stable and that a thunderstorm is expected to bring some relief on Wednesday or Thursday.
The fire service was alerted to the wildfire in the western Latvian district of Talsi on the evening of July 17.
On Wednesday night, a small village was evacuated due to severe air pollution caused by the smoke from the wildfire and two firemen were treated for minor injuries.
