Fires Ravage Croatia and Herzegovina: Worst in Istria
Multiple outdoor fires were reported during the day, with firefighting planes and both professional and volunteer firefighters deployed to combat the blazes.
Multiple outdoor fires were reported during the day, with firefighting planes and both professional and volunteer firefighters deployed to combat the blazes.
A series of outdoor fires struck the regions of Istria and Gorski Kotar on Monday, August 3, 2026, with the flames also reaching neighboring Herzegovina. The most challenging situation was in Istria County, where three fires broke out, with the one near Katun Gračaški threatening power supply infrastructure.
According to the Istria County Firefighting Association, the fire near Katun Gračaški was caused by a lightning strike during a dry thunderstorm. By 4:15 PM, it had consumed between 10 and 15 hectares of grass and low vegetation. A total of 25 firefighters with eight vehicles from the public fire brigades of Pazin, Labin, and Poreč, as well as the Lupoglav Volunteer Fire Department, were dispatched to the scene. To bring the blaze under control, two firefighting planes were called in, one of which was already engaged in firefighting efforts, while the other was en route to the fire.
Due to the proximity of the fire and the safety of firefighters, the operator was forced to shut down a 110-kilovolt power line. This measure led to warnings that parts of Istria could experience difficulties in power supply, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Meanwhile, a second fire broke out between Sutivanac and Barban, where members of the Pula Public Fire Brigade and local volunteer fire departments intervened. A third fire was reported in the morning hours between Bale and Vodnjan, which was extinguished by professional firefighters from Pula and Rovinj, along with volunteers from the Bale, Vodnjan, Fažana, Peroj, Kanfanar, and Rovinjsko Selo volunteer fire departments. The Rovinj-Rovigno Public Fire Brigade publicly thanked all involved teams for their dedication and hard work.
Gorski Kotar was not spared either. In the settlement of Zaumol, part of the town of Vrbovsko, grass and low vegetation caught fire. According to initial estimates, the fire affected an area of about 2,400 square meters, or roughly a quarter of a hectare. Around ten firefighters from the Vrbovsko Public Fire Brigade and the Lukovdol and Blaževci, Plemenitaš volunteer fire departments participated in extinguishing the blaze. Although the official cause will be determined by the police, initial information suggests the fire was likely sparked by a carelessly discarded cigarette butt.
Due to high temperatures and prolonged drought, fires are becoming more frequent in Herzegovina as well. In the Široki Brijeg area, at the Babići locality between Trn and Dobrkovići, the fire dangerously approached structures. Members of the Široki Brijeg Professional Fire Brigade immediately responded, working to prevent further spread and protect threatened homes.
