A UH-1H-II helicopter belonging to the 2nd Helicopter Squadron of the Air Force and Air Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina is continuing firefighting operations on Mount Čvrsnica today.
In accordance with procedures for assisting civil institutions, the squadron carried out two sorties yesterday, each lasting two hours. A total of 18,000 liters of water was dropped using a firefighting bucket with a capacity of approximately 1,000 liters.
As Mount Čvrsnica is one of the highest mountains in Bosnia and Herzegovina—and the highest in Herzegovina—flying over it during the summer months is always demanding; high temperatures place additional strain on the aircraft’s engine, and strong winds can also pose a challenge. Helicopter crews must exercise extra caution during firefighting missions, as thick smoke reduces visibility and can further impair engine performance.
According to civil authorities, the fire on Čvrsnica was spotted two days ago at the Razvale site, at an altitude of 1,850 meters.
Under established procedures, Armed Forces resources are deployed to assist civil institutions only after those institutions have exhausted all options for successfully battling the blaze, the Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
