Blaze at Bulgarian arms plant triggers blasts, warehouse destroyed

A fire at a Bulgarian military plant destroyed an ammunition warehouse Monday after a truck blaze triggered a series of explosions near the village of Belitsa, prompting evacuations and a multi-hour containment operation by emergency crews, according to the Bulgarian News Agency.

Truck Fire Ignites Ammunition Depot

The blaze originated when a truck caught fire at the facility operated by private arms manufacturer EMCO, setting off explosions that ripped through warehouses at the site located in Tryavna municipality. Emergency crews subsequently brought the inferno under control, and authorities confirmed that no fatalities or injuries occurred during the incident.

Flames spread from the industrial compound into adjacent wooded areas, requiring additional firefighting resources to contain the secondary brush fires. Officials cordoned off the surrounding region and restricted access to prevent civilian exposure to potential hazards.

Minister Dismisses Foreign Interference

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev stated that investigators found no indication of external sabotage or foreign involvement in the incident, confirming that the ammunition warehouse had been completely gutted while other structures remained intact. He added that emergency protocols were activated immediately to protect workers and nearby residents.

Local authorities initially advised villagers to seal their windows, wear protective masks, and remain indoors to avoid smoke inhalation. Air quality monitoring later showed normal readings, allowing officials to lift the precautionary measures.

Spontaneous Ignition Probed as Cause

EMCO manager Slavcho Dimiev indicated that spontaneous combustion of propellant materials remained one possible explanation for the initial vehicle fire, though the company has formally excluded human error as a contributing factor. The exact cause remained undetermined as forensic teams awaited access to the blast site.

Demerdzhiev noted that safety specialists could not fully assess the damage for at least 24 hours due to the persistent risk of secondary explosions from unstable ordnance remaining at the facility.