Fire on Šipan: Water Bombers Extinguish, Island Without Power
The fire broke out at a substation in the Čemprjesi area and spread to the surrounding forest, with firefighters set to remain on duty throughout the night.
The fire broke out at a substation in the Čemprjesi area and spread to the surrounding forest, with firefighters set to remain on duty throughout the night.
On the island of Šipan, a fire broke out this afternoon, spreading from a substation to the surrounding forest. Two water bomber planes were deployed to extinguish the flames, and the island has been left without electricity.
According to JUGInfo, the fire broke out in the Čemprjesi area at a substation before spreading to the nearby forest. The incident was preceded by a fault in the power grid: the island lost electricity after the line from the direction of Orašac failed, and the fire erupted following an attempt to supply power through an alternative line leading to the substation at Čemprjesi.
Dubrovački dnevnik reports that the fire broke out in the area of Luka šipanska, towards Ratac. Meanwhile, Dubrovniknet states that the forest in the Šipanska luka area caught fire. Sources, therefore, disagree on the exact location where the fire started.
Additional firefighting forces have been dispatched to the scene. Two boats carrying firefighters arrived on Šipan: one with members of the Dubrovnik Public Fire Brigade (JVP Dubrovački vatrogasci) and another with firefighters from the Slano Volunteer Fire Department (DVD Slano). Two water bomber planes are participating in the aerial firefighting efforts.
County Fire Commander Stjepan Simović confirmed to JUGInfo that the fire has not yet been contained, but emphasized that the situation is under control. Firefighting operations are ongoing, and firefighters will remain on the island throughout the night.
Šipan is currently without electrical power. Further information about the grid fault and the resulting damage is expected to be released later, according to JUGInfo.
