Mayor Ivanović and associates welcomed the members of the Mladost Volunteer Fire Department and the Kaštela Volunteer Fire Department team, presenting them with awards for their outstanding performance among more than 125 teams from 17 countries.
The City Council chamber in Kaštel Sućurac was the venue for a ceremonial gathering on Monday, August 10, 2026. Mayor Denis Ivanović and his deputy Antonio Budimir hosted the Kaštela firefighting forces, who returned from the 18th international competition in Eisenstadt, Austria, with results worthy of admiration. The members of the Mladost Volunteer Fire Department from Kaštel Sućurac brought home a bronze medal and a trophy in the Women B category, while their colleagues from the Kaštela Volunteer Fire Department secured 14th place in the Men B category.
In addition to the mayor and his deputy, who presented the firefighters with awards and commemorative gifts, the reception was also attended by the leaders of the local Firefighting Association. These included President Tomislav Vidić and Commander Darko Maretić, with support from Ivica Tuta, President of the Mladost Volunteer Fire Department, and Commander Tomislav Kereta.
The competition, held every four years, brought together more than 125 teams, or around 1,700 competitors from 17 countries. Jelena Barić, a member of the bronze-winning Mladost Volunteer Fire Department team, revealed what lies behind the success that resonated far beyond the borders of Dalmatia.
"If I had to describe it all in one word, it would be, indescribable. However, behind it are thousands of hours of work, a lot of sweat, effort, sacrifice, and above all, the unity and harmony of all ten members of our team. On the field, the individual doesn't matter; what matters is the team that breathes as one. All of that resulted in a bronze medal, which is a great and historic achievement for our association and our city," Barić stated.
She added that Kaštela's branding on the world map of firefighting was complete. "I can certainly say that we represented our city with dignity. I believe that no one left this Firefighters' Olympics without having heard of Kaštela," Barić said.
Jure Ninčević, a member of the Kaštela Volunteer Fire Department for whom this was already his sixth appearance at such a major competition, did not hide his satisfaction, but also his regret for what was missed. He believes his team was on the verge of an even better placement.
"We were just a few seconds away from a better result. I hope this team stays together because it can achieve so much more. I am especially pleased for our female firefighters and the medal they brought to Kaštela. This is a great thing for all of us, for the City, and for all of Kaštela's firefighting community," Ninčević said.
Tomislav Vidić, President of the Firefighting Association, emphasized that this achievement is the culmination of years of volunteer dedication. "Hats off to the women. These are people who do all of this voluntarily, alongside their jobs and families. They set aside their free time to come to their associations and train throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions. A result like this doesn't come after a few months; it is the fruit of years of work," Vidić stressed.
Mayor Ivanović spared no words of praise for both teams and their contribution to Kaštela's reputation. "Winning third place at such a major international competition is truly a great success, and I sincerely congratulate the members of the Mladost Volunteer Fire Department. I also congratulate the firefighters of the Kaštela Volunteer Fire Department on their result and wish them continued work and new achievements," Ivanović said.
He also touched on the concrete steps taken by the city administration to strengthen the firefighting service. "The cooperation between the City and the Firefighting Association has been unquestionable for many years. We have invested in new equipment and firefighting vehicles and helped our associations with the renovation and reconstruction of fire stations and garages. Over the past two years, we have increased the salaries of professional firefighters on two occasions. We know they are available 24 hours a day and that we call them first when something happens. For that, we owe them a great deal of gratitude," the mayor concluded.
