While firefighters on Brač continue to battle the blaze near Pučišća, the fire on Smokovnik hill near Hvar was contained within an hour thanks to the swift response of three island volunteer fire departments and a firefighting aircraft.
Efforts are underway to combat wildfires at several locations in Dalmatia. Due to a new fire breaking out in Vira Bay on Hvar, the CL-415 water bomber, previously operating on Brač, has been redirected to Hvar.
Meanwhile, a major operation continues near Pučišća on Brač, where additional aerial resources have been deployed. The Ministry of Defense reports that two additional Airtractor AT-802 aircraft have been sent to the fire site on Brač.
A Mi-171Sh helicopter is also involved in the operation, tasked with transporting firefighters and equipment to the Pučišća area. This further strengthens the ground forces battling the fire.
The fire that broke out on Thursday morning on Smokovnik hill near Hvar has been successfully contained. The blaze affected low vegetation, and firefighters from three island volunteer fire departments, along with one firefighting aircraft, took part in extinguishing it.
The fire was reported at 11:25 AM, after which members of the Hvar, Stari Grad, and Jelsa volunteer fire departments headed to the scene. A total of 18 firefighters were on the ground, equipped with eight fire engines. The Hvar department had five vehicles, Stari Grad two, and Jelsa one.
Firefighters on the ground were assisted by a firefighting aircraft. Thanks to the rapid response, the spread of the fire was quickly halted. The fire was under control by around noon, and at 12:20 PM, about twenty minutes later, it was declared contained.
Firefighters from Hvar shared particularly thrilling footage from the scene. They released a video showing the drive to the fire site, followed by the battle with the flames and extinguishing efforts. The footage best illustrates the conditions firefighters face on the ground.
Meanwhile, the fire near Pučišća on Brač, which broke out overnight, remains active, and around 50 people, mostly tourists, have been evacuated from about twenty properties. According to Nikola Martinić Dragan, commander of the Brač Operational Area, strong bora winds caused fire jumps of 600 to 700 meters, so the initial fire developed into five or six separate blazes within just half an hour, which later merged. The fire threatened homes and the industrial zone of Pučišća, but firefighters managed to defend the structures. More than 250 hectares, mostly dense pine forest, have been burned. At the peak of the operation, over 120 firefighters with around 40 vehicles were on the scene, with water bombers and Air Tractors also participating. Firefighters expect stronger bora winds overnight, which could reignite the fire, so crews will remain at the site throughout the night. The cause of the fire is not yet known, and police have been on the scene from the start, but due to the severity of the situation, firefighters could not focus on determining the cause as their priority was protecting people and property, said Martinić Dragan.
