The fire in the Neretva canyon in Konjic is still active on inaccessible terrain, announced the Federal Administration of Civil Protection today.
The situation at the fire site near Boracko Lake is under control, and there is no need to engage the helicopter of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There are currently no active fires in other municipalities and cities of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, according to the announcement.
The situation in Blidinje is much worse than in previous days. The fire has spread, now it threatens the cottages as well. During the day, due to thick smoke, the fire cannot be seen. One canadair and one helicopter, people on the ground say, can’t help much.
The Canadair from Croatia and the helicopter of the Republika Srpska have partially brought under control the spread of the fires. which has been engulfing the untouched nature of Mount Cvrsnica in the Blidinje Nature Park for the sixth day in a row.
The fire leaves in its wake incalculable damage to the flora and fauna of the area.
“We managed to localize the fire on one side, but it is moving towards the southern sides, towards the settlements. It’s an extremely inaccessible terrain, we’ll see what we’ll do, we have about a hundred people on the field, we’re still getting calls, we need a lot of people”, says Mario Cutira, commander of the fire brigade in Posusje.
Because of the thick vegetation and humus, a tough fight is being waged. Despite the help that is already arriving from all sides, more than a hundred hectares of pine forest have been burned. There are over 100 firefighters, mountain rescue service, fishermen, foresters, mountaineers, but also local people who are trying to prevent further environmental threats and the spread of the fire to the settlements.
“It’s a shame for nature of unfathomable proportions, not a single building has burned down yet, but for nature, for the Blidinje Nature Park – if it goes south, it will go on forever,” points out Cutura.
Photo: archive
