What happened on Lungomare beach in Pula?

A 23-year-old Italian national lit a fire for fun, and citizens immediately called the police, who extinguished the fire without any material damage.

When is the ban on open fires in Istria County in effect?

The ban is in effect from June 1 to October 31, and during this period, public firefighting units do not issue permits for open fires.

Croatia

Italian Man Lights Fire on Pula Beach, Citizens Call Police

Q: Who takes over further proceedings against the 23-year-old?

Further proceedings are taken over by the Inspection Department of the Civil Protection Service in Pazin, to which the police reported the committed misdemeanor.

B.J. · Prije 8h | 2 min

The 23-year-old gathered dry branches and started a fire on Lungomare, but timely reports from citizens prevented any damage. Police warn of the ban on open fires.

Summary

Citizens reported to the police around 9 PM on Sunday that a fire had been lit on Lungomare beach in Pula.
Police found a 23-year-old Italian who had lit dry branches for fun; the fire was extinguished without damage.
In Istria County, from June 1 to October 31, any open fire is prohibited.
The case has been referred to the Inspection Department of the Civil Protection Service in Pazin.

Make 5MIN.hr a preferred source

The Istrian Police Department reported an unusual incident on Lungomare beach in Pula, where a 23-year-old Italian citizen, according to police reports, set a fire "for fun" on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at around 9 PM. The quick reaction of citizens who immediately called the police prevented the situation from escalating into something more serious.

After receiving the report, police officers immediately went to the scene, where they found the young man who had previously gathered dry branches and started a fire. The fire was extinguished upon the police's arrival, and thanks to the timely intervention, no material damage occurred, as reported by Glas Istre.

Misdemeanor Proceedings and Warning for Citizens and Tourists

Due to the committed offense, the police reported the incident to the competent Inspection Department of the Civil Protection Service in Pazin, which will take over further proceedings against the 23-year-old Italian citizen.

The Istrian Police Department issued a warning for residents and visitors that, according to the county regulation on open fire rules, from June 1 to October 31, any open fire is strictly prohibited throughout the Istrian County. During this period, professional firefighting units do not issue permits for open fires.

The police emphasize that during the summer months, due to high heat and temperatures, there is an increased risk of outdoor fires. The main causes of fires are careless burning of weeds and dry grass, use of open flames, grills, discarding cigarette butts, and similar actions. Due to insufficient attention, such fires can easily spread to forests, houses, and farm buildings, endangering human lives.

Therefore, the police urge citizens and tourists to respect the ban on open fires, not to throw flammable items out of vehicle windows, to check that they have taken all necessary measures to prevent fires, and not to block firefighting access routes for emergency vehicles with their cars.