How many hectares did the fire near Ilok affect?

The fire affected between 20 and 30 hectares in the border area between Croatia and Serbia.

Why was extinguishing the fire difficult?

The terrain was inaccessible due to large amounts of forest debris and fallen trees left after the 2023 storm.

Were there any injuries in the fire?

According to available information, there were no injuries, and no buildings were threatened.

Croatia

Fire in the 'Valley of Peace' near Ilok: Flames Engulf Up to 30 Hectares

Q: Which firefighting units participated in the extinguishing operation?

The Ilok Public Fire Brigade, the Vukovar Public Fire Brigade, and the Lovas Volunteer Fire Department participated, with seven vehicles.

A.E. · Prije 7h | 2 min

Firefighters battled for hours against the blaze on inaccessible terrain strewn with fallen trees from the 2023 storm, with the fire largely extinguished.

Summary

A fire near Ilok affected 20 to 30 hectares on both sides of the Croatian-Serbian border.
Firefighting was hampered by fallen trees from the 2023 storm, with seven vehicles involved.
The fire was largely extinguished, with firefighters remaining at the scene overnight.

Make 5MIN.hr a preferred source

A forest fire that broke out on Sunday in the border area between Croatia and Serbia, in a region locals of Ilok call the "Valley of Peace," has affected between 20 and 30 hectares. The fire spread on both sides of the state border, and extinguishing efforts lasted from noon until the evening hours, as reported by HRT and Press032.

The fire was reported by the police at 12:06 p.m., after which all available units from the Croatian side joined the extinguishing operation: the Ilok Public Fire Brigade, the Vukovar Public Fire Brigade, and the Lovas Volunteer Fire Department. Seven vehicles were used in the operation.

Inaccessible Terrain Hindered Firefighting

Dario Bošnjak, commander of the Ilok Public Fire Brigade, described to HRT the conditions on the ground that significantly hampered the firefighters' efforts. "We had a lot of terrain that has been inaccessible since the 2023 storm. This is a part of the forest that is heavily broken up, with large amounts of forest debris on the ground, which further hindered our access to the fire itself," Bošnjak said.

According to him, the fire consumed young forest, low vegetation, and branches and trees left on the ground after the severe storm that hit the area in 2023. No buildings were threatened, and there were no injuries.

Fire Largely Extinguished

In the evening, around 9:49 p.m., Bošnjak confirmed to 24sata that the fire was largely extinguished. "What I can say is that the fire is mostly out, and we are currently extinguishing the last flames," he stated.

He further explained to Press032 that members of the Ilok Public Fire Brigade would remain at the scene throughout the night to respond quickly if needed. "We don't yet know where the fire started; that will be determined during the investigation. The most important thing is that we put it out," Bošnjak said. It is not yet known whether the fire crossed the border in either direction.