Piškorovec: 50 Firefighters Battle Blaze Across 25 Hectares
Fire in Međimurje Brought Under Control After Four Hours of Fighting in Extreme 39°C Heat
Fire in Međimurje Brought Under Control After Four Hours of Fighting in Extreme 39°C Heat
A large open-space fire that broke out on Wednesday afternoon in Piškorovec engulfed approximately 25 hectares of woodland, grass, and low vegetation. According to available information, around fifty firefighters from several volunteer fire departments in the Međimurje area took part in extinguishing the blaze.
The fire was reported at 1:37 PM, after which units from the Držimurec-Strelec and Mala Subotica volunteer fire departments were first dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they encountered a large-scale fire with thick smoke. It quickly became clear that the initial forces would not be sufficient to contain the blaze.
Compounding the situation were extremely poor weather conditions. Driven by a southern wind, the fire spread rapidly, with air temperatures reaching as high as 39 degrees Celsius. As a result, the first firefighting crews on the ground were quickly exhausted.
Additional alerts were requested through the Čakovec Operations Center, leading to the involvement of the Palovec and Sveti Križ volunteer fire departments. Since the fire site was near the borders of several municipalities, firefighters from the Domašinec Firefighting Community, specifically the Domašinec and Turčišće volunteer fire departments, also arrived to assist.
To prevent the fire from spreading and ensure adequate water supplies, members of the Dekanovec, Gardinovec, Belica, Donji Kraljevec, and Sivica volunteer fire departments later joined the operation. In total, around 50 firefighters battled the blaze.
During the firefighting efforts, one firefighter fell ill due to smoke inhalation and exposure to high temperatures. An emergency medical team provided necessary care on-site. Alongside the firefighters, officers from the Međimurje Police Department were also present.
The operation officially concluded at 5:40 PM. The commander of the Mala Subotica Municipal Firefighting Association expressed gratitude to all firefighters, both men and women, who, despite very challenging conditions, made great efforts to bring the fire under control and avoid greater material damage.
