A large fire broke out near Jesenice, a settlement in the Dugi Rat municipality, shortly before 3 a.m., the Split County Fire Operations Center (ŽVOC) confirmed. More than 130 firefighters are battling the blaze, and houses are also at risk. Canadian firefighters have also arrived to help.
- 11.25 hours - The situation at the fire near Jesenice (Dugi Rat) for which ŽVOC Split received a report at 2:26 a.m. is much more favorable. 147 firefighters with 50 fire engines, 4 CL-415 aircraft and 2 AT-802 Air Tractor aircraft were engaged in extinguishing the fire.
- Thanks to the superhuman efforts of firefighters and the air force, the situation at the fire site is now much better. The spread of the fire westward towards Podstrana has been stopped. I especially commend the local volunteer and professional firefighters who immediately began defending family homes in the extremely difficult conditions of the strong bora wind that made extinguishing the fire difficult. Thanks to their sacrifice, the buildings were saved and there were no casualties. For safety reasons, we have relocated 5-6 citizens from the endangered buildings. Firefighters are continuing to rehabilitate the fire site - emphasized the Chief Fire Chief Slavko Tucakovic.
- 10.35 hours - The firefighters' work is not finished yet. They still have to repair and water the area.
- Firefighters will certainly remain at the fire site all day and night, as well as for a good part of the day tomorrow - said Commander Kovačević.
- 10.30 hours - Settlements are without electricity, and the Adriatic Highway remains closed because fire trucks are still on the road.
- No citizens were injured, and there may be cases of irritated eyes or mild smoke inhalation among firefighters, but nothing serious - said Commander Kovačević.
- 10.20 hours - All residential buildings were successfully defended, including houses between two settlements in the densely populated coastal zone, as well as those in old villages above the fire area. There is currently no information about major material damage to buildings, but there will be consequences for agriculture due to burned olive and fig groves.
- 10.15 hours – The situation is no longer dramatic.
- The Canadians are helping us, the situation is no longer dramatic. It's mostly about clearing the smoke, but strong winds could create new problems during the day. We've stopped at the edges of the fire, and planes are intervening wherever needed, so we don't expect any major problems - said Commander Kovačević.
- 10 hours - The fire that broke out last night above Jesenice and Sumpetar, east of Split, is about three kilometers long. The inaccessible terrain makes extinguishing the fire difficult, but houses and residential buildings have been defended.
- According to available information, one uninhabited building burned down, but firefighters managed to defend houses and residential buildings that were attacked by flames about three kilometers long, he said. Pave Tomic, Commander of the DVD Dalmatia-Long War.
The fire also descended near the Adriatic Highway, but firefighters prevented its advance.
Chief Fire Commander of Split-Dalmatia County Ivan Kovačević said that the current situation at the fire site is more favorable than in the early hours of the morning, and after fire extinguishers and an air-tractor were involved in extinguishing it.
U In the Staro Selo settlement, where the fire broke out, there is a house and an apartment that some people left last night, and firefighters protected the buildings in that settlement from the fire, said Kovačević.
- 9.20 hours - Former Minister Gordan Maras took to Facebook to thank the firefighters and helicopter crews who participated in extinguishing the large fire near Krilo Jesenice.
- 9.08 hours - The Croatian Fire Brigade said that the fire affected grass, maquis, low vegetation and pine forest on a currently unassessed area. 140 firefighters with 45 vehicles and 3 CL-415 aircraft are participating in the intervention.
- Since the beginning of the intervention, we have been engaged in defending the facilities. The current situation is much better. The fire is active on the western and northwestern sides, where firefighters and the air force are working. We are expecting the arrival of another CL-415 aircraft and an Air Tractor - said the commander of the Split-Dalmatia County Fire Brigade. Ivan Kovačević and added that all forces are continuing to rehabilitate the fire.
- 8.50 hours - The Ministry of Defense confirms that four Canadair CL-415 and one AirTractor AT-802 were deployed at the fire site.
- 8.20 hours - The situation is not good, we do not have the fire under control, the area affected is large, we do not yet have information whether any residential or commercial buildings have burned down, as far as I know there are no injuries, we are doing everything we can to save the houses and move the fire away from them, but we are not even close to localizing the fire, said the commander of the firefighters in Dugi Rat in a statement for Croatian Radio Pave Tomic.
- 8.15 hours - Strong wind that promotes the spread of the fire to the west. Houses which were threatened were successfully defended.
- 8.05 hours - Chief Fire Chief Slavko Tucaković confirmed that several people were evacuated.
- 8.02 hours - A fourth Canadian is expected to arrive around 8 am.
- 8 hours - Here is the current situation on the ground
- 7.55 hours - There are 133 firefighters and 44 vehicles on the scene. The fire is active, buildings are being defended, and Canadians flew in to help at 6:30 a.m., reports Free Dalmatia.
- 7.35 hours - The police urge drivers to follow the instructions and orders of police officers in the field.
- 7.30 hours - Three Canadian firefighters are also participating in extinguishing the fire.
- 7 hours - The fire spread from Sumpeter.
- 6.50 hours - The police reported that the D8 road from Mutogras to Omiš was closed to all traffic at 6:15 a.m. Police officers on the ground divert traffic and support firefighters. Traffic is being diverted from Omiš to the road via Tugar, and police officers have also established a checkpoint at the intersection behind Stobreč and are redirecting drivers onto the road via Žrnovnica.
Photo: Marijana Puljak/ Facebook
