July 14, 2022 - The latest on the fires in Vodice, Zaton, and Sibenik, which broke out on Wednesday, July 13. 

A large fire broke out on Wednesday in the hinterland of Sibenik, and during the afternoon, the fire spread to Zaton and Raslina. Residents of Zaton and Raslina had to leave their homes, and some were evacuated by boat. During the evening, some residents returned home. About 20 houses burned down, and the fire also destroyed several cars. 

Two Canadairs have been in action since the early morning. The fire chief reported that the fire is under control, reports Jutarnji List.

08:10 am - Darko Dukić, commander of the Šibenik-Knin County Fire Brigade, told HRT that the situation is under control but that the moment when he will be able to say that the fire is localized is far away.

"Be careful; the fire covered 3,300 hectares; that's a huge area. In addition, there is a lot of pine forest in the area towards Vodice, and if the fire had engulfed that area, the fire would have reached Tribunj," said Dukić.

07:45 am - The Croatian Fire Association announced on Thursday morning that more than 300 firefighters fought the fire near Zaton and Raslina during the night from Wednesday to Thursday.

"On Thursday around 2:00 am, firefighters partially managed to bring the fire under control. On Thursday morning, there is no uncontrolled fire spread and large fronts. The fire is surrounded," said the Croatian Fire Association (HVZ).

"Since 6:00 am, two Canadairs have been used. Tonight, 350 firefighters, 50 soldiers, 54 police officers, and many citizens were involved. One hundred eighteen firefighters with 40 firefighters came from the interior," said chief fire commander Slavko Tucaković and added that extraordinary deployments were engaged from Split-Dalmatia, Lika-Senj, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Karlovac, Zagreb, and Zadar counties, and Koprivnica-Križevac county is coming.

There was no evacuation order tonight, the residents defended their houses, and we thank them. There was significant material damage to homes and olive groves, but luckily no one was injured. It is estimated that around 3,000 hectares were burned," added Tucaković.

HVZ states that firefighters and other forces remain at the fire site until further notice.

07:30 am - Minister Davor Božinović also visited the fire this morning. He pointed out that the situation is better than yesterday:

"Morning in Zaton and Raslina. A better situation, no large fire fronts, and uncontrolled expansion towards Vodice. More favorable weather conditions. Around 350 firefighters from Šibenik and six other counties worked all night, with the support of many citizens, soldiers in the Raslina area, and 75 police officers to secure the fire and traffic. Thanks, everyone," announced Bozinović.

07:02 am - Due to the fire in the Šibenik area, the DC8 is closed to all traffic; the state road DC27 from the intersection with the Adriatic highway (DC8) to Gaćelezi and the county road Vodice-Gaćelezi (ŽC6086), the Croatian Auto Club (HAK) reported on Thursday morning.

06:50 am - Slavko Tucaković, chief fire chief, appeared on the show 'Good Morning Croatia' and explained what happened during the night near Šibenik.

"Fortunately, the night was less fiery. The key moment happened around 2 am when the wind stopped, and there is currently no uncontrolled fire spread, as we surrounded the fire from all sides. Two Canadairs also took off this morning," Tucaković said, confirming that the situation was challenging yesterday.

"It was a firestorm. Material damage is excellent, about 20 houses were damaged. Fortunately, there were no casualties; several firefighters were slightly injured, one fell into a well. We all have to move on together; the damage was great... But, everyone came to help."

04:45 am - On early Thursday morning, the Sibenik area is still burning, and the firefighters are processing the peripheral part of the fire area next to the buildings in the towns of Raslina and Zaton. That work awaits them all night, said the deputy commander of the Public Fire Department of the city of Šibenik. 

The county commander of the Sibenik-Knin Fire Brigade, Darko Dukić, told Croatian Radio at 2:00 am on Thursday that the situation in the area of Zaton and Raslina had calmed down and that the fire was open in the direction of Vodice.

"The situation in the area of Zaton and Raslina has calmed down. However, we have an open fire in the direction of Vodice towards the Adriatic highway, which is closed to all traffic. All the fire brigades are deployed in that part, and we are stopping the spread of the fire towards the highway and further towards the houses in Vodice and the area of Srima. In the last few hours, the work has been done successfully in that part, the wind has stopped somewhat, and we will see how the situation will develop further. Colleagues from Zadar County, Lika-Senj, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar have joined us, and Karlovac County is joining us very soon," said Dukić.

The commander of the Šibenik fire brigade, Volimir Milošević, presented the situation on the ground in the early hours of Thursday.

"I will go by places: In Raslina, the situation is much better. The fire is not localized but is no longer so active that it endangers buildings. In Zaton, the situation is somewhat better. However, a large area around these places needs to be rehabilitated. We cannot consider it localized until the firefighters pass by on foot. The problem is that the fire in Zaton is moving along the hills in the direction of Vodice, that is, Srima, and the Jadranska magistrala, and this is what the firefighters are doing most now - they are preventing the fire from crossing the Jadranska magistrala, or Benkovac road. The buildings are less threatened at the moment, but the fire is quite large. The forces we receive from neighboring counties and other parts are on their way, and some larger ones have arrived. Tired firefighters will be at least partially replaced," said Milošević.

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July 13, 2022 - The latest update on the fire in Sibenik today. The situation is serious around Zaton. The commander of the Sibenik-Knin County Fire Brigade Darko Durkic confirms that 20 houses have been destroyed. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will arrive soon at the scene.

UPDATE: The latest on the fires in Vodice, Zaton, and Sibenik on July 14

High temperatures and winds have caused three fires in the Dalmatia region, and numerous fire units in Zadar and Sibenik-Knin counties have been fighting the expansion of the fires for hours. The situation is particularly serious in Zaton, a village located 10 kilometers north of the city of Sibenik.

Darko Dukić, commander of the Šibenik-Knin County Fire Brigade, told RTL that this fire in Zaton near Šibenik is worse than the one in 1986, reports 24sata.hr.

''Back then, as it is now, a large pine forest was burning, but this is a worse fire now. It started from Zaton, 7-8 km on Benkovačka cesta, and it went in the direction of Vodice. When a strong mistral blew, the wind threw the fire 500-600 meters up to a kilometer, and in just ten minutes from the outbreak, the fire reached the town of Zaton itself.'', said Dukić.

The fire in Sibenik has destroyed about 20 houses, and if they fail to control the fire, they will have to close the highway from Šibenik bridge to Vodice and prepare for extinguishing the Jadrija area. 

''(...) As of today, the fire moved and the wind is quite strong, we can hope for anything and everything. About 20 houses burned, some in Zaton, some in Raslina. We have about 20, these are roofs, the fire with ash and a glowing part went through the beams.'', Dukić said.

No injuries have been reported yet, and fire units from Lika-Senj and Split-Dalmatia are joining soon too.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is on his way to the fire scene, reports Index.hr. Deputy Prime Ministers Davor Božinović and Anja Šimpraga and Minister Mario Banožić are also arriving with him. 

"Prime Minister Andrej Plenković headed towards the Šibenik-Knin County due to the large fire that affected certain areas. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Ministers Božinović and Šimpraga and Minister Banožić. The Mayor of Šibenik Burić, Prefect Jelić and Chief Fire Chief Tucaković informed him about the situation in terrain and damage. We are grateful to the firefighters, members of the army, police, civil protection, and all services for their engagement. All available forces are in operation to bring the fires under control and protect property and people," said government spokesman Marko Milić.

More updates will follow.

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July 13, 2022 - Three fires in Dalmatia broke out on Wednesday - two in Šibenik-Knin County and one in Zadar County. The current situation is not good.

This article has been updated. Click here for the latest update of the fire in Sibenik at 20:45 pm.

Three fires are active in Dalmatia, one in Zadar County and two in Šibenik-Knin County, the Croatian Fire Brigade Association (HVZ) announced on Wednesday, reports Jutarnji List and HRT.

"We once again appeal to the citizens to be extra careful due to the extremely unfavorable weather conditions, which include a very high risk of forest fires breaking out in almost the entire area of Croatia," said chief fire commander Slavko Tucaković.

In the village of Boraja near Šibenik, a fire broke out due to a traffic accident, after which the surrounding vegetation caught fire. A Canadair was sent to extinguish the fire, with the help of the fire brigade on land.

In the same county, there is also an active fire on Benkovačka cesta, which is also being extinguished by firefighters.

Vodice JVP commander Antonio Begić told Dalmacija Danas that the fire on Benkovačka cesta is quite large, that 45 firefighters are putting it out, and that the number of firefighters is growing.

"The Air Force is helping us, specifically two Canadairs. There is a pine forest above, low vegetation, there are also endangered buildings, so we are now concentrating on that," added Begić. Begić said that the firefighters do not yet have control over the fire.

A traffic accident also caused a fire in Zadar County, in the area of Visočane. A van was ignited which caused the fire to spread to grass and low vegetation.

Firefighters point out that there is no danger of the fire spreading to the buildings, and firefighters and Canadairs have already been sent to the scene.

HVZ reminds citizens that it is forbidden to burn weeds, especially in windy weather, to use barbecues in nature, and to throw cigarette butts and any other irresponsible behavior that may cause a fire.

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August 11, 2021 - Through a statement, the Makarska firefighters have warned all landlords and their guests that the use of open fire, such as fireworks or barbecues, is strictly prohibited.

HrTurizam reports today that the Voluntary Fire Brigade of the City of Makarska sent an appeal to all landlords, tourist workers, the tourist community, and all citizens of Makarska, to warn tourists that lighting fires in the open are strictly prohibited.

In addition to the dystopian images coming from Turkey and Greece from the fires that have already caused irreparable ecological damage and evacuated thousands of tourists and locals, the fires also continue to be a threat on the Croatian coast due to the high temperatures in the summer, the wind, and in many cases by the irresponsibility of the people.

Just a week ago, a fire in Trogir set off alarms and took a few days to fully extinguish. Even in Makarska, which has seen record numbers of tourists and guests this summer, it has also had to call on fire brigades and canadairs to put out fires in the area. For this reason, the Makarska firefighters have decided to pronounce on the matter through a statement.

According to their statement, last night they had 5 interventions related to barbecues, lighting candles, torches, and other fire uses close to the forests.

They emphasize that during the summer months it is strictly forbidden to use open flames in the open, as any form of barbecue in the woods, lighting wax candles, torches, smoking, and more. The Voluntary Fire Brigade of the City of Makarska, therefore, has asked renters and all other accommodation owners to warn their guests that the use of open fires is strictly prohibited.

"Let's all be the guardians of our city together and prevent a catastrophe in time. Even the slightest zeal is needed for just that to happen. Let's be responsible", emphasizes DVD Makarska.

Also, DVD Makarska is in the process of raising money for a set of firefighting suits for forest fires, and they are asking for help with donations. Find out more details HERE.

Updated article on the morning of August 3.

August 2, 2021 - A fire in Seget Gornji, in the hills of Trogir, broke out in the morning. Although the houses in the neighborhood are not in danger, the smoke is affecting the air traffic of the Split airport.

A large fire in Seget Gornji broke out around 10.30 am, reports 24sata. It blazed along the road. As we find out, the fire is spreading carried by the wind, but the houses are not endangered for now. All available forces from the fire brigades from Solin, Vranjica, Kaštela, Trogir and Seget Vranjica are on the ground. Police regulate traffic on DC 58 and drive alternately in one lane so that firefighters can use the other lane unhindered. The Split-Dalmatia Police Department appeals to drivers to be careful. Two canadairs are helping the firefighters in the field, and two 'air tractors' are expected to arrive at any moment.

''There are over 100 firefighters and 25 vehicles on the field, and help to firefighters on the field is still arriving. Two canadairs are also helping with the extinguishing. Maquis and low vegetation are burning, and the fire is spreading in the southeast direction'', the county fire commander, Ivan Kovačević, told 24sata.

(Photo: 24sata reader)

As we have learned from Pero Bilas, the assistant director of Split Airport, due to the fire near the airport, several planes were sent to alternative runways, points out Dalmatinski Portal. Resnik, says Bilas, was not closed, but there was a disturbance in air traffic. Despite the efforts of all fire brigade units present in the area to control the fire, the smoke continues to be a problem.

''There will be a delay in landing and then taking off. The planes take off from the Split airport'', says Bilas.

Canadairs are constantly flying over because it is the shortest way to the fire.

More will follow...

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July 10, 2021 - During the season, 500 fire watchers and 96 cameras will try to spot fires in Croatia as they arise in order to put them out as soon as possible. And Croatian Forests is investing additional funds in fire prevention and public education.

One of the main threats during the summer season are the fires in Croatia that occur mainly in Dalmatia and its islands, but as reported by HRT Vijesti, 500 observers and 96 cameras will be the main resources to prevent them from spreading and can be put out as soon as possible.

Mr. Ante Vedrić works as an observer of Croatian forests on a fourteen-meter observation post next to the Musapstan Forest Park in the suburbs of Zadar. During the fire season, the forest is monitored from June 1 to September 30 in shifts from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The cameras are also on for 24 hours.

''The observer immediately reports to the fire center, the cameras record it and then they list the firefighters and our observers have a work diary and they record it every beginning of the fire, the end of the fire if the Canadian drops water bombs and we count it'', said Croatian Forest Observer Ante Vedrić .

However, fire prevention begins even before the season, so the Zadar foresters in Žmirići in the Nin-Kožino economic unit performed fire-fighting forest clearing.

''On fire prevention, we primarily work on pruning the lower branches, removing dry branches in the immediate vicinity of roads, cleaning belts, grinding small mass and thus reduce the possibility of forest fires and spread'', said Zadar Forestry Manager Mislav Maršić.

Last year, 200 square kilometers of forest were burned. The wood mass itself is worth ten million kuna, but the damage, due to the general useful functions of forests such as oxygen generation or reducing soil erosion, climbs up to one hundred million. That is why Hrvatske šume financed an additional four cameras this year, and a new tender for the provision of video surveillance services is being prepared.

''The four-year contract costs us about twenty million kuna, but that money is nothing because we heard what the damage is, what damage occurs when the forest burns so all the investments we have and that is from 75 to 100 million kuna as the average in the past four years are actually small investments considering how much fires in Croatia are prevented and how much forests are saved'', said the director of the Forestry Department of Croatian Forests Krešimir Žagar.

''Today we have 96 cameras in four counties: Dubrovnik-Neretva, Split-Dalmatia, Šibenik-Knin, and Zadar, where the cooperation of Croatian Forests with the fire brigades of the counties that Croatian Forests finances a certain part of the duty'', said the Chief Fire Chief of the Croatian Fire Brigade. community Slavko Tucakovic.

In Hrvatske šume, they claim that despite the new cameras, they will always need observers who earn four and a half thousand kunas a month. In addition, foresters will buy firefighters new special vehicles for forest fires because the age of their fleet is 23 years.

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Last week, the second year of activities for the Boranka volunteer campaign was announced in a press conference near Zadar.

As we reported in 2018, Boranka is the most prominent volunteer reforestation campaign, taking place in Dalmatia on the land that was destroyed in forest fires which happen regularly in Croatia during the summer. It was started last year primarily by the Croatian Scouts Association, in cooperation with Croatian Forests and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS). During its inaugural year, it got together over two and a half thousand volunteers, regenerating the forests around Split and Solin during eight weekends of work, using 25 thousand young trees.

The press conference announcing the "new season" of the very successful campaign was announced at the nursery garden Piket, in Zemunik Donji near Zadar. That piece of information is probably enough to understand what the most important news regarding this year's Boranka campaign is: it's coming to Zadar County! After the press conference, the journalists took a tour of the nursery garden, which will supply all of the young trees used in this year's reforestation campaign. This year, the organizers are planning to plant over 40 thousand trees in Split-Dalmatia and Zadar counties, and include over 4000 volunteers.

The campaign also has an educational aspect, as many lectures and educations on the importance of forests, nature preservation, fire prevention, and climate change have been organized in preschools and schools in Dalmatia, attended by over 5000 children. There's also a creative part of the campaign, and you can learn more about how you can participate at the campaign's website www.boranka.hr, and to join as a volunteer, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Four weekends have been announced for this year, as follows:

• October 5, 6 - Split (Žrnovnica)
• October 12, 13 - Solin (Kučine)
• October 26, 27 - Split (Sitno Gornje)
• November 9, 10 - Zadar (Kožino)

The Šibenik police arrested a woman on Saturday afternoon who was directly linked to causing the fire in the Šibenik area over the weekend, reports Šibenski.portal on July 28, 2019.

"In connection with the fire that burned in the Šibenik Dubrava area on July 27, around 13:30, we inform you that the police have determined that this was caused deliberately.

Thanks to our commitment to work and the evidence gathered through the eyewitnesses, the Šibenik-Knin police narrowed the circle of suspects, and in the afternoon, they arrested a female directly linked to the fire," the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) said.

A criminal investigation has been carried out, and the Šibenik police will inform the public on the results of the investigation in a timely manner when all conditions are met.

Recall, on Saturday morning, Interior Minister Davor Božinović, together with Chief of Police Administration of Šibenik-Knin Ivica Kostanić, reported to the public that the police had excluded certain evidence and were working to bring the investigation to an end. 

"There is a possibility that the fire was started deliberately, and in that sense, we are conducting a criminal investigation and verifying whether there are any suspicious situations. We are checking certain facts and knowledge that we have to find the cause,” said Kostanić. 

Otherwise, Šibenski.portal informally found that it is the same woman who was suspected of starting seven fires in the Dubrava area from 18 July to 23 July two years ago. 

Chief firefighter Slavko Tucaković said on Saturday evening that the fire was under control and that fire rehabilitation has been carried out. It estimated that the intervention of firefighters lasting 28 hours will cost a minimum of 4 to  5 million kuna.

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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.

DVD Brodarica-Krapanj Facebook

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. 

More soon…

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First fires raged through Peljesac, now the rain is causing issues.