A large wildfire has broken out yesterday between the villages of Jasenovik and Kožljak on the Istrian side of Učka Mountain in Croatia, affecting approximately 40 hectares of grass and low vegetation.
According to the Glas Istre portal, more than 70 firefighters with 25 fire trucks have been deployed to contain the blaze.
Firefighters Battle Harsh Conditions
Dino Kozlevac, commander of the Istria County Fire Department, stated that as of 6 PM, the fire was still not under control.
“The wind, mostly the bura, is making things difficult for us. Right now, we are focused on protecting the villages of Jasenovik and nearby areas to prevent them from being endangered. We will try to extinguish as much as possible overnight, and if needed, we are preparing to receive Canadair planes in the morning,” Kozlevac explained.
Massive Firefighting Effort Underway
Firefighters from multiple units, including Labin, Rabac, Kršan, Raša, Sveta Nedelja, and Pićan, were joined by reinforcements from Pula, Rovinj, Umag, Poreč, Buzet, and Pazin. Due to the challenging terrain, specialized Canadair aircraft have also been called in to assist.
Local forestry workers, Učka Nature Park staff, and municipal workers are also helping to combat the fire.
