Posušje Municipal Civil Protection Service warns of a rise in irresponsible fire lighting, recalling the 2022 fire that burned 339 hectares of forest and caused over one million marks in damage.
The Posušje Municipal Civil Protection Service issued an urgent warning on Friday, August 7, 2026, to all citizens, tourists, and weekend visitors in the Blidinje Nature Park area. The reason is a concerning increase in illegal fire pits and outdoor grilling, which, combined with current high temperatures and extremely dry vegetation, poses an exceptionally high risk of large forest fires.
The Civil Protection and Economy Service of the Posušje Municipality stated that more and more cases of fire lighting have been observed in the park's forested and open areas. What is particularly worrying is that some visitors do not fully extinguish their fires after gatherings. Smoldering embers under these weather conditions can be enough to ignite a blaze.
The service clearly stated that lighting open fires in forests, on forest land, and near forests is strictly prohibited and legally punishable. "Any careless fire lighting, no matter how small, can endanger human lives, cause accidents, and destroy our unique natural heritage," warned the Posušje Municipal Civil Protection Service for Vrisak.info.
The devastating consequences of careless behavior are best illustrated by the major fire that broke out on July 16, 2022, on Mount Čvrsnica. The fire raged across inaccessible mountain terrain for a full 14 days, leading to a declaration of a natural disaster.
In that fire, 339 hectares of dense pine forest were burned, and the estimated material damage exceeded one million convertible marks. More than 100 people participated in daily shifts to fight the fire. The group included professional firefighters from Posušje, Mostar, and Čitluk, members of mountain rescue services, foresters, hikers, local residents, and many volunteers from across the region.
To prevent a recurrence of a similar scenario, increased patrols and surveillance by the relevant services will be conducted in the coming period. "Any violation of the ban will be strictly sanctioned," stated the Posušje Municipal Civil Protection Service.
They called on everyone at Blidinje not to light fires outdoors and not to underestimate the risk that a single unextinguished ember can cause. The service urged conscientious, responsible, and civilized behavior to protect lives, property, and the unique natural wealth of this protected area.
If citizens notice open fires, smoke, or fire, they are obliged to immediately notify the firefighters at the toll-free number 123.
