FIRE ON BRAČ STRETCHES FOR ALMOST 40 KILOMETRES

BRAČ, SEPTEMBER 14 /SRNA/ - The fire on the Island of Brač stretches for almost 40 kilometres, and according to firefighters' estimates, more than 4,000 hectares of forest, low vegetation and maquis shrubland have been burned so far.

The situation at the fire site was more favourable overnight. Since the fire broke out on September 10, there have been no major flames or significant smoke; any smaller flare-ups have been limited in scope, and firefighters have responded immediately, the firefighting services said this morning.

"A total of 235 firefighters and 68 vehicles have been on the ground throughout the night," the Brač Fire Operations Headquarters said.

Ivan Kovačević, head of the Split-Dalmatia County Firefighting Service, believes the fire could subside in the coming days if there is no wind.

"The fire has affected a vast area on Brač, and its length is estimated at between 35 and 40 kilometres," Kovačević said.

Duboka Bay near Milna on Brač, where firefighters battled the blaze fiercely on Saturday night, looked eerie yesterday, Croatian media reported.

Residents say they will long remember the scenes of the fire-ravaged area, where the blaze destroyed the vegetation.

Firefighters said it was quite apocalyptic, with the flames surrounding all the buildings before they could reach them, putting them under enormous pressure as they had to make their way through the fire to reach people and evacuate them. They stressed that they were literally defending one house after another.

The situation was particularly dramatic at one resort, where 200 people were trapped inside a hotel at one point.

"We found the hotel full of people, and getting them out was a major challenge. The fire had surrounded us, and we could not simply evacuate them to safety. The only option was to move them into a solid building, seal it well to keep out the smoke, and then defend the building while they remained inside," the firefighter explained.