Omiš After the Fiery Night: The Ground Still Burns
Residents describe an unprecedented fire that entered the very town, while home reconstruction races against forecast rain.
Residents describe an unprecedented fire that entered the very town, while home reconstruction races against forecast rain.
The fire that swept through the Omiš area on August 16, 2026, left behind scenes residents say they have never witnessed. Nova TV reporter Sofija Preljvukić reported from Omiš, where she spoke with a local resident about the night the town burned. "That was the night Omiš didn't sleep; never in history has a fire reached the town itself," the resident told Dnevnik.hr.
The catastrophic fire left devastation, destroyed properties, and deep sorrow in its wake. In response to this tragedy, the Dubrovnik Animal Protection Society issued an emotional appeal on its official website, reminding the public of the silent victims-animals and nature-whose homes were consumed by the flames. "Only life is what cannot be brought back! A breath, a heartbeat-no matter the body it resides in-will never be repeated! And that little birch, cypress, holm oak, or pine will never again bring the chirping of birds with the wind! The crackling of twigs under the paws of hedgehogs and turtles; the worn paths and columns of ants; the lizards basking in the sun... all has fallen silent! No more barking of dogs! No more meowing of cats! Silence! Painful and final!" the statement reads.
The dramatic images from the outskirts of Omiš serve as a stark reminder of the destructive power of the firestorm, as well as humanity's enduring responsibility toward nature and the living beings that depend on us. As firefighters and local residents continue to grapple with the aftermath, the message from Dubrovnik's animal protectors resonates as a painful reminder of all that has been forever lost in the flames.
While the firestorm has subsided, volunteers remain active at the burn site, searching for surviving and injured animals. Volunteer Olga Burić described the conditions on the ground as extremely difficult for Novi list. "We were helping people and animals, and we still are. Unfortunately, a lot has burned-both structures and animals. You can't walk on the scorched ground because your shoes literally burn," she said.
Burić explained that the ground in some places is still smoldering. "The ground is still burning. Literally, after about twenty seconds of standing in one spot, my feet started burning through my sneakers," she added. Currently, due to the risk, volunteers are not deploying large numbers of people, and they try to catch any animals they find and take them for veterinary checks, to the clinic, and for microchip scanning. Volunteers are covering the reported area, but due to the harsh conditions and the large number of dead animals, they are not involving more people for now.
Despite the devastation, there are moments of hope. In the village of Borak, volunteers assisted a man who managed to pull five dogs from a burning building. One woman saved as many as 30 cats, to whom volunteers are now bringing food again. However, the emotional toll is immense. "We've had at least five or six situations where a person simply has no choice but to sit down and cry when they see the state we've encountered," Burić told Novi list.
Residents in the area are left without electricity and water, and in some damaged homes, the air is almost unbearable. Supplies for animals-food, water, bowls, blankets, and cages-are being collected, with some donations placed in safe spots within the fire-affected area for domestic and wild animals. Food, water, bowls, blankets, treats to lure frightened animals, and carriers are also being gathered.
The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) has warned citizens not to rush into the burned area without first checking with firefighters. "We respect the initiative and desire of people to help, but care must be taken not to endanger their own lives," HGSS stated. Damaged trees are unstable, and there is also the danger of rockfalls and ground collapse in areas affected by the fire. On steep, burned terrain, the danger is even greater, and ground temperatures in some places can be very high.
The Welo Team is also involved in coordinating aid; this group launched the website "Kad zatreba" (When Needed) to connect people in need with those who can help. Team representative Antonio Petrina said they adapted the site for post-fire assistance in a very short time, and it includes a section dedicated to helping animals. "We hope it will help better organize who needs what, who offers what, and where aid should go," Petrina said for Novi list. He urged citizens to be cautious when donating money and to verify the credibility of aid requests.
Simultaneously with rescue operations, reconstruction in Omiš has begun. Damaged homes are being covered with foil ahead of forecast rain. Residents and services are working on repairs to prevent further damage to already scorched structures.
Meanwhile, police have arrested four people in the wider Benkovac area on suspicion of involvement in starting fires. As reported by Hina, a tip from citizens about suspicious behavior came in last night after 8 p.m., after which officers located and stopped a vehicle and arrested the suspects. A criminal investigation is underway to determine all the circumstances of their movements and any possible connection to fires in the Zadar area.
In addition, the search for missing Bosnian citizen Dragana Antešević continues. According to police information, the 34-year-old went missing on August 13 in the village of Stanići near Omiš while fleeing the fire. Her disappearance and photo have been published in the National Registry of Missing Persons of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior. In Stanići, according to media reports, three people were in a car, one of whom was seriously injured. The search is focused on the area where the vehicle was located.
At KBC Split, seven patients are currently being treated, four of whom are on ventilators in the intensive care unit. Three severely burned patients have been transferred to Zagreb. The identity of the person who lost their life in the fire has not yet been officially confirmed. County Prefect Blaženko Boban has declared a natural disaster for the Omiš area, and police and the State Attorney's Office are continuing their investigation into the fire's cause, including the seizure of surveillance camera footage. More than 200 HEP workers are on the ground working to restore the power grid, and it is expected that most customers will have electricity restored during the day.
On Saturday, firefighters responded to multiple locations, including Dugi Otok, Galovac, and Dinara, where fire from Bosnia and Herzegovina crossed into Croatian territory. On Pelješac, rehabilitation of the fire site near Kuna Pelješka continues, where about 500 hectares of pine forest burned. According to Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucaković, the situation is stable at other fire sites where firefighting forces intervened today. "The fire near Jovići is under control, and firefighters successfully defended homes at the site. We continue with rehabilitation there with the help of two Air Tractors, and we will leave crews on duty overnight," Tucaković said. He added that firefighters actively worked on rehabilitating fire sites at Lokva Rogoznica, Kuna Pelješka, Dugi Otok, and Galovac, and the situation at all these locations is stable. Due to the favorable situation, all extraordinary deployments from the mainland have been released.
The most challenging situation is currently in the Jovići and Slivnica area in Zadar County, where a fire broke out today around 2:15 p.m. near the settlement. Fifty firefighters with 17 vehicles are on the ground, while two Air Tractors and one Canadair operated from the air. The fire is under control, and firefighters managed to defend homes. A fire on Dinara near Polača, which broke out on August 14, is also active. Nineteen firefighters with nine vehicles are at the site today, along with four Canadairs. The fire is still active, but due to improved conditions on the difficult-to-access mountain terrain, further calming is expected.
Due to weather conditions conducive to vegetation fires, especially strong winds along the coast, firefighters are urging citizens to exercise extreme caution and remind them of the ban on open fires in nature. Citizens and tourists are also warned not to approach fire sites to take photos or videos, as this endangers their own safety and hinders the work of firefighters and other services. In case of fire, call 193 immediately.
County Fire Commander of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Stjepan Simović, warned that several recent fires in the county were caused by human activity, and the investigation will determine whether it was intentional or negligence. "A cigarette butt won't just disappear. In this weather, a fire can easily flare up," Simović said for Nova TV's Dnevnik. He made a special appeal to tourists, hotels, tourist organizations, and car rental companies to warn guests about the danger of discarding cigarette butts. "Fireworks are a great danger. Setting off fireworks at this time, without any knowledge or experience, is a huge risk," he said. He added that fireworks during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival are held under strict safety rules and with firefighters present. Simović also announced the expansion of video surveillance for early fire detection, with cameras installed on Mljet and in Župa dubrovačka. "Punishment is mandatory because without punishment, nothing works," he stressed.
The fire on Pelješac has been stopped and is no longer spreading, but firefighters remain on alert due to heat and strong winds, Simović said for HRT. Fifty firefighters will be on duty at the site, and monitoring will continue tomorrow. "The situation is, thank God, excellent. The fire has been stopped, and there is no more spread on either the northern or southern side. Still, this is a large and demanding fire, so caution is never enough," he said. The most important thing was to stop the fire from reaching populated areas, which firefighters managed to do on the first evening. They defended threatened homes in Kuna, as well as part of the vineyards, although the fire spread very quickly and crossed the state road. "Such a firestorm can scorch several thousand vines in a second. We tried to protect homes and human lives, but also the vineyards that people depend on," he emphasized. For safety reasons, road traffic and power and water supply to part of Pelješac and Korčula were interrupted during the firefighting. An additional ferry connection via Trpanj was organized for passengers, and traffic was first restored on one lane and then fully opened. The cause of the fire is not yet known, and police have conducted an investigation. "I hope it's not the human factor, and especially not arson. The police need to determine the cause," Simović said. He assessed that this year's fire season is significantly more demanding than last year's, with major fires in the Bjelotina area in Konavle and between Smokvica and Blato. The biggest challenge for the future will be retaining a sufficient number of firefighters, especially volunteers. "These are people who give their time, come to the fire, and work just like everyone else. They need to be appreciated, retained, and further incentivized because without people, nothing exists," he stressed. He called on citizens to regularly clear vegetation around their homes to reduce the danger to people and property and to make it easier for firefighters to access buildings.
