Tens of hectares of stubble burnt on July 21 near Bacioi village, Chisinau municipality. The strong wind kept the fire burning and it extended close to a nearby forest. The press officer of the Civil Protection and Emergency Service, Liliana Puscasu, has told Info-Prim Neo the fire ignited at about 13.00. The flames expanded over 70 ha of stubble 5 ha of dry grass in the nearby forest. The firefighters struggled with the fire more than 2 hours. The cause of the ignition is not known as yet, but the firefighters believe it is likely to be the human factor. The fire burst from a thrown cigarette butt or from the fire possibly lit to burn vegetal waste. Since the start of the grain harvesting campaign, 28 ha of wheat and 85 ha of stubble have been destroyed in the areas of Drochia, Ungheni, Basarabeasca, Edinet, Rascani, Cimislia, Balti, Crilueni, Briceni and Chisinau. The material damages are assessed at 226,000 lei, as 268 ha of grain and 3 combines have been rescued.