Fire Chiefs and Worker Accountable for Kornat Fire

Lucic said the fire “swooshed past them” in 10 seconds, there was no escaping it.

According to first results of the inquest of the Kornat island fire, where 11 fire-fighters have died and two are still struggling for their lives, three persons are held accountable for the fire and the accident – late Dino Klaric, fire chief on the field, Drazen Slavica, Sibenik Fire Department chief and Pasko Petrina who threw the cigarette butt and cause the fire.

Slavica is accused of several offences, which include not providing help to fire-fighters whose lives were in danger.

It is doubted that the firemen were hurt by an eruptive fire that occurred in the Sipnata basin and the inquest will be continued.

During a National Security Council (VNS) sitting, it was confirmed that the inquest was completed with the testimony of Frane Lucic, fire-fighter who gave a statement to the police at the Split hospital.

According to available information, the inquest allegedly proved that one of the fatal and false estimates was to send the firemen to the pear with water following the shorter path, through the ravine where they were set on fire, and not via safer peaks. This decision was reached by fire site chief Dino Klaric.

Petrol had no cause and effect connection with the fire spreading and 13 fire-fighters getting injured on Kornat island, but the tragedy was, probably, caused by sudden strengthening of the wind, a so called eruptive fire, said police inquest expert Andro Vrdoljak.

Unfortunate combination of circumstances which the firemen could not avoid

At the National Security Council sitting, closed for the public, with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and President of Parliament Vladimir Seks present, representatives of the Interior Ministry and State Attorney`s Office held a presentation on taken steps to determine circumstances under which the fire occurred and fire-fighters were injured on Kornat island.

Afterwards, the presentation was held for the press and police chief Marijan Benko said the tragedy most probably occurred due to “a combination of unfortunate circumstances”.

State Attorney Mladen Bajic said police questioned fire-fighter Frane Lucic, who is being treated at the Split hospital. Lucic said the fire “swooshed past them” in 10 seconds and there was no escaping.