A large forest fire broke out on Saturday in the area of the municipality of Ložišće, on the western part of the island of Brač. According to estimates, the flames have affected an area of 56 hectares, which is more than 14 per cent of the island's total area. For comparison, this extensive area is almost equal in size to the entire adjacent island of Šolta, illustrating the scale of the fire's sudden spread.
The situation was further complicated on Saturday evening when the fire engulfed the coves of Duboka and Osibova. At that point, guests staying at the Resort Gavi were evacuated. The evacuation was carried out exclusively by sea, with the help of specialised vessels. The rescue operation involved members of the Ministry of the Interior, the Croatian Navy, the local port authority, as well as private boat owners who made their vessels available for the evacuation of those in danger.
A total of 235 firefighters, equipped with 68 fire engines, are involved in the fight against the fire. Units from several local areas have joined the operation, including from Split, Trogir, Kaštel, Solin, Omiš and Makarska, with support from the operational units of the Split-Dalmatia, Šibenik-Knin and Dubrovnik-Neretva counties. In the first hours of the operation, two people were taken to the Split University Hospital Centre for further examination, while there were no injuries among the firefighters on the ground.
On Sunday morning, four Canadair aircraft joined the fight, further boosting the extinguishing efforts. According to reports, firefighters have managed to protect the majority of the threatened properties, although minor damage has been recorded, primarily to the facades and awnings. The causes of the fire are attributed to a combination of strong wind, dense vegetation and difficult terrain, which hinders access to the fire and makes it difficult to extinguish.
