Five months after a devastating fire swept through the village of Rani Lug, near the Bulgarian-Serbian border, the traces of the disaster are still everywhere. Collapsed buildings, burnt forests and black color dominate the landscape, and locals prepare for the upcoming bright holidays among the ruins of their former lives.
Alexander Kirov's house miraculously survived, even though the flames raged just 20 meters away. He describes the experience as an “unprecedented miracle“ and “a nightmare that cannot be forgotten”. Together with his grandson, Alexander spends the whole night fighting the sparks that have covered his terrace with embers. “The fire was in the sky“, he recalls.
However, not everyone is as lucky.
Stefan Rangelov loses his home, in which he has invested 40 years of work. After the fire, he is forced to live in a metal van provided by the municipality. “Everything went to zero, all my memories went“, the man says.
With the help of volunteers, Stefan manages to repair the roof and rebuild a small room in his burned-out house, where he plans to spend the winter. The conditions in the van, especially during the storms and the lack of electricity in October, were unbearable. “This is iron, you freeze“, he says.
Insufficient state aid
Financial support from the state is proving to be extremely insufficient for the victims. Stefan received a one-time grant of 1,900 leva - an amount that, according to him, is not even enough for one door. Social services have also helped a little, but the main burden of recovery falls on the shoulders of the people and the help of friends.
In addition to the buildings, the fire has also destroyed Stefan's livelihood - dozens of chickens, ducks and rabbits have burned down. Even his pet cat suffocated from the thick smoke.
Despite the tragedy, the people of Rani Lug are not losing hope. Stefan is preparing to celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas and his name day (St. Stephen's Day). "I have two chairs inside, if a friend comes, we'll make it somehow, we'll survive," he says.
Although the winter promises to be harsh, the locals, many of whom are long-time hunters and mountain-hardened, say they are "tough" and ready to face the hardships to keep their village alive.