New Fires Near Hvar and Dubrovnik Threat to Homes

Fires on Hvar island and the vicinity of Dubrovnik have broken out, threatening nearby homes. Help of fire-fighting planes expected.

Little before 11 hours, a fire broke out between Sveta Nedjelja and Ivan Dolac near Jagodna on the south side of Hvar island, threatening homes and a car camp from which guests were relocated, but the danger was averted due to quick intervention, Tomislav Vuke, assistant state fire-fighters` commander for the Croatian coast informs.

Pine forest is on fire, as well as low shrubbery and macchia.

For precaution reasons, car camp guests were relocated. This was not an evacuation, but a safety initiative for people towards Jelsa, Vuko pointed out. He added that additional complications are made by small measurements of the Pitve tunnel, making it impossible for a larger number of people to be transported at the same time.

The fire is being put out by a helicopter and two fire-fighting planes. Along with local fire-fighters, members of the intervention unit located in Jelsa on Hvar island are also participating, while 35 more fire-fighters were forwarded from the main land, as well as six vehicles.

A Part of the fire-fighting units which has passed the Pitava tunnel is protecting the small settlement Jagodna and a car camp. None of the houses or vehicles have caught on fire, but the fire is heading towards higher areas of the hill, presenting additional troubles for the fire-fighters, who are trying to stop the fire shifting over to the northern side of the hill towards Jelsa, Vuko said.

More fires near Dubrovnik      

A new fire has broken out in the vicinity of Dubrovnik, at Tupovno near Gruz. The fire moved towards settlements Nuncijat and Sustjepan, but it has already been contained in these areas and the fire has spread to the already burned area at Srdj hill where it is impossible to put out fires due to residual land mines from the Croatian Homeland War. Due to the fire, leg of the Jadranska magistrala highway (D8) was closed from dr. Franjo Tudjman bridge in Dubrovnik until the Dubrovnik junction.

Dubrovnik fire-fighters are putting out the fire and they should soon be aided by a helicopter and a fire-fighting plane.