ZAGREB, August 21, 2018 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković toured on Monday the Fire Coordination Centre at Divulje in Split, saying that this year significant changes had been made with regard to firefighting activities and that the area consumed by wildfires was 98% smaller than last year. "We have learned a lesson from the situation in 2017," he said but warned that it is necessary to remain cautious for the remainder of the fire season.
The prime minister believes that the decrease in the number of wildfires this year is owing to more favourable weather conditions as well as to measures taken to improve fire protection, including better coordination in firefighting efforts and a faster response to wildfires.
Answering questions by reporters, Plenković said that the establishment of the main operational firefighting command at Divulje had contributed to the decrease in the number of wildfires. He promised more funds in the next fire season for the improvement of firefighting capacities of towns and municipalities in need of additional equipment.
Plenković also called on members of the public to act responsibly and refrain from lighting fires in the open in high temperatures and windy conditions.
Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, who was accompanying Plenković, said that this was the first year for unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to be used to help prevent wildfires.
Interior Minister Davor Božinović said that so far this year there were 75% fewer wildfires than in the same period of last year. "The rate of cases solved has gone up 24%, and charges have been pressed against 26 people," said the minister.
He said that EU funds worth 31.5 million kuna would be used to buy telecommunications equipment for all services, notably firefighters, and that 94 firefighting vehicles worth 257 million kuna would be bought.
