Just after 1:30 pm on Saturday, a fire broke out in the Dubrava area near Šibenik which forced 38 firefighters to the ground assisted by the Air Force, said the Fire Department of the Šibenik-Knin County. Shortly after, a second fire broke out which spread to the motorway, reports Index.hr and T.portal.hr on July 27, 2019.
The fire brigade commanded Croatian Roads (HAC) close the motorway, which happened just after 4 pm. The highway was first closed in both directions between the junctions of Šibenik and Vrpolje, and around 5 pm, a larger part of the motorway was closed, from Skradin to Vrpolje.
According to the latest information from Šibenik, more than 120 firefighters, six Canadairs and three air tractors are at the scene. Around 6 pm, the fire reached the toll booths and approached homes. The strong southern wind (jugo) is giving firefighters difficulty containing the fire.
As you can imagine, there is plenty of traffic. Along the entire Adriatic highway in Šibenik area, a kilometer-long column of cars has formed thanks to the motorway closure.
Around 6:45 pm, the border forces of the Croatian Army arrived at the scene, and the entire Civil Protection System is on its feet.
According to Šibenski.portal, the fire reached Mihaljević and is over one hundred meters long, maybe a kilometer, and cannot be controlled at this time.
“The situation is such that we have 85 firefighters on the ground, 25 soldiers, we have raised the State Intervention Unit Split, and the police are very helpful in the traffic situation since the Šibenik-Drniš road is closed and since 6:27 pm the highway opened. The situation is such that the houses are not endangered, that is, at one point, some fifty houses were endangered north of the Garden Center in Dubrava. The fire is not under control, but the state of the houses is under control. Three Canadians, three air tractors, 35 vehicles. The firefighters are the alpha and omega of the fire, and we, from the Civil Protection Council, are involved as needed and in a situation where the fire would threaten the houses and when evacuation would be needed. Then we are legally responsible for logistics in terms of accommodation, transportation, and nutrition. All this is not necessary at present, but we are ready and the situation is changing rapidly,” says Danijel Mileta, the Deputy Mayor of Šibenik and the president of the Civil Protection Director.
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Šibenski.portal reported at 7:33 pm that the fire near the fast road Šibenik-Drniš broke out again. Namely, the fire brigade had been redirected to fighting the critical points near homes and after that part of the fire was partially under control, they returned to the location where the fire erupted again.
Šibenski.portal reported that the fire in southern Dubrava is the biggest fire this year, where seven firefighting planes from PP NOS OSRH and 26 members of Croatian army have been engaged, and in addition to strength in the air, the fire will also be fought by an unmanned Orbiter aircraft.
This is also the first time the Croatian Army's ground forces have been engaged in this year's firefighting season, according to the Ministry of Defense (MORH).
"We are giving it our all, but the fire on the front line is big. It is difficult to approach, and the wind makes its own challenges. There is a lot of smoke, and beside it is a pine forest that is quite dense. We will stay in the dark and hope to stop the fire,” said Colonel Vlahović.
For the latest updates on Croatia's roads, check the HAK website.
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