How an Albanian couple saved their home from fire: the secret was keeping the property clear

In the town of Himarë in southern Albania, a fire that raged on Friday destroyed six houses — but one home was left untouched, thanks to its owners' long-standing habit of regularly clearing dry grass and vegetation around the property. The story, based on accounts from those affected, was reported by Reuters.

"We clear everything here regularly so our house doesn't catch fire. It's as if someone warned us this area would burn one day. That's why we keep the property clean," the homeowner, Maria, told Reuters.

Evacuation and return

When the fire began approaching the couple's home, police ordered them to evacuate. Maria was convinced that when she returned, she would find nothing but ashes where her house once stood.

"We left so we wouldn't get trapped in the middle of the fire. I thought the house would burn down, but my husband kept reassuring me, saying it wouldn't happen because we had already cleared everything around it. He told me not to be afraid," the woman recalled.

Dozens of fires across the country

The fire in Himarë destroyed six houses. According to Reuters, Albania continues to suffer from abnormally high temperatures and dozens of active wildfires in early September. On Sunday, authorities recorded around forty fires burning simultaneously. More than 1,200 firefighters and soldiers, along with helicopters and a firefighting plane, have been deployed to battle the blazes.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz