Fire near Herceg Novi under control, 50 houses saved
Firefighters battled the blaze all night as it spread from Bijela to Baošići, with the service commander expecting it to be extinguished during the day.
Firefighters battled the blaze all night as it spread from Bijela to Baošići, with the service commander expecting it to be extinguished during the day.
The fight against the fire above Žager in Herceg Novi lasted all night, and this morning the situation is somewhat more favorable, Zlatko Ćirović, commander of the Protection and Rescue Service of Herceg Novi, told Radio-Television of Montenegro (RTCG). The fire is being extinguished by a plane from the Ministry of Interior (MUP) and a helicopter.
Ćirović described last night's situation as very critical, noting that at one point around 50 houses were threatened, but they are currently safe. The fire line stretched for several kilometers, from Bijela towards Baošići, through a densely populated area.
"The situation last night was very critical. Dozens of houses were threatened. The fire line is really large, several kilometers. It stretches from Bijela towards Baošići. A densely populated area. It was challenging; we needed to defend those houses, and we succeeded," said Ćirović.
Firefighters from Nikšić, Cetinje, Kotor, and Tivat, as well as volunteer fire departments and colleagues from Luštica, assisted in the extinguishing efforts. The previous day, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, firefighters from Trebinje also helped fight the fire.
The fire above Žager started burning on Wednesday, affecting low vegetation. Strong winds further fueled the flames and hampered the intervention. The fire spread through an area where a power line runs, approaching houses and a church, prompting some residents to be evacuated preventively, while police are assisting locals.
Commander Ćirović is optimistic about the further course of the operation. "I expect the fire to be extinguished during the day," he told RTCG.
