Two separate fires broke out in Croatia’s Split Dalmatia County on Monday, creating a busy day for firefighters dealing with emergencies both on land and at sea. One fire spread through forest on Sveti Klement in the Paklinski Islands near Hvar, while another involved a large boat near Čiovo. The first fire was reported at around 11:40 a.m. in difficult and inaccessible terrain, prompting around 25 local firefighters to respond. Using two pumps, crews managed to bring the flames under control and, most importantly, prevented the fire from reaching nearby homes. Fire commander Nikola Škare said firefighters had successfully moved the fire away from residential buildings, although flames were still burning higher up the affected area. Several Canadair firefighting aircraft were expected to assist because the steep island terrain made access particularly difficult. At almost the same time, another emergency unfolded near the island of Fumija, where a large boat caught fire. Fire crews from Trogir, Okrug and Kaštela were sent to the scene to contain the flames and prevent the situation from becoming more dangerous.
Fortunately, everyone aboard the boat was safely evacuated, and there were no reports of injuries among passengers or crew. The two incidents created an unusually demanding situation for emergency services, with firefighters responding simultaneously to a forest fire and a boat fire. The timing is particularly significant because the Croatian coast is experiencing one of its busiest periods of the year, with the islands around Hvar, Trogir and Split attracting large numbers of tourists. Dry summer vegetation and strong winds can make fires particularly dangerous along the Croatian coast, while island locations create additional challenges because personnel and equipment may need to be transported by sea. Authorities will continue monitoring both locations and assessing the extent of the damage. The fire on Sveti Klement was brought under control before reaching nearby houses, while firefighters continued dealing with the boat near Čiovo. The causes of both fires have not been confirmed in the initial reports.
