The underground fire in the Mureșul Mort riverbed, within the Lunca Mureșului Natural Park, has not been extinguished by the rainfall over the past two days.
Romsilva states that the fire’s persistence following the rain indicates that it continues to burn underground.
The situation is being managed at the Arad Prefecture level by a task force comprising representatives from the Lunca Mureșului Natural Park Administration, the Arad County Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU Arad), Romanian Waters, the National Agency for Land Improvement, the National Environmental Guard, and other institutions.
One of the solutions proposed by the Lunca Mureșului Natural Park Administration and agreed upon by the task force is to divert treated water from the Arad Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Mureșul Mort branch.
At the same time, the Arad County Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU) is working to pinpoint the exact source of the fire and the areas where the fire continues to burn.
A specialized mobile laboratory from the Arad County Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU) is also expected on site to conduct further investigations and assist with risk assessment.
This is not a new problem.
The first outbreak was identified in 2025, when the fire covered an area of approximately 200 square meters. The outbreak was then localized and contained.
However, the situation worsened starting in June 2026, due to prolonged drought and wind.
According to Romsilva, the affected forest area has reached approximately 30 hectares, with the entire zone located within the protected natural area.
Currently, employees of the Lunca Mureșului Natural Park remain on the ground to monitor the situation and respond as needed.