How was a larger disaster prevented?

A passerby noticed the smoke and fire at the very beginning and extinguished the flames in time before they could spread to the surrounding dry vegetation.

Why is Susak particularly vulnerable to fires?

Because it is an isolated island where firefighting intervention is difficult, and dry vegetation and wind can quickly spread the fire.

Croatia

A Step Away from Disaster on Susak: A Cigarette Butt Nearly Started a Fire

Q: What happened on the island of Susak?

Someone carelessly extinguished a cigarette by stubbing it out in a crack in the dry wooden plank of a bench, which caused the wooden bench to catch fire.

Q: What message did the Susak-Srakane Local Committee send?

They urged: "A potential major fire was just averted! We ask everyone to behave responsibly! Let's avoid disasters!"

A.G. · Prije 9h | 2 min

The Susak-Srakane Local Committee released dramatic photos and issued a stern appeal to residents: "Don't be such idiots!"

Summary

On Susak, a major fire nearly broke out due to a cigarette butt shoved into a crack in a dry wooden bench.
A passerby extinguished the flames in time, preventing the fire from spreading to the surrounding vegetation.
The Susak-Srakane Local Committee issued a stern appeal to residents to behave responsibly.

Make 5MIN.hr a preferred source

Only thanks to the composure and quick reaction of a passerby was a potential ecological and material disaster on the island of Susak averted. Someone carelessly tried to extinguish a cigarette by stubbing it out in a crack in the dry wooden plank of a bench, and the dry wood soon caught fire.

Just a Spark Was Enough

The Susak-Srakane Local Committee published photos showing a dramatic scene at one of the island's postcard spots-a wooden bench perched on a hilltop overlooking the sea, engulfed in flames. The dry wood, combined with the dry grass directly beneath it, the dense island vegetation, and a light breeze, created conditions in which the situation could have spiraled out of control within minutes.

Fortunately, a responsible citizen noticed the smoke and fire at the very beginning and reacted in time, extinguishing the flames before they could spread to the surrounding dry vegetation. Had it not been for that intervention, the consequences could have been unimaginable.

A Stern Appeal from the Local Committee

Following the incident, the Susak-Srakane Local Committee issued a clear appeal to the public and all visitors to the island. "A potential major fire was just averted! We ask everyone to behave responsibly! Let's avoid disasters!" they urged. Among the comments from locals, one stood out in particular: "Don't be such idiots!"

An Island Extremely Vulnerable to Fire

This is yet another in a series of warnings about how, during the summer months, a single second of carelessness is all it takes. The charred bench on the edge of the cliff, now a sad sight, serves as a reminder that irresponsible behavior by an individual-such as discarding an unextinguished cigarette butt-on remote islands where firefighting is extremely difficult, can cause immense damage to the environment, property, and human lives.

Authorities and local officials once again urge all residents and tourists to exercise utmost caution when spending time in nature, especially during the summer months when the risk of fire is at its highest.