Fire on Croatian holiday island Brač destroys more than 3,500 hectares of land

Fire department situation assessment

Response teams from the nearby port city of Split and other parts of Croatia were dispatched to the island to assist. Increased forest fires had also been recorded on other Adriatic islands and in several European countries in recent weeks, bringing the question of causes – including prolonged drought and high temperatures – more sharply into focus.

The Croatian authorities had previously initiated protective measures for the population. Residents in particularly vulnerable areas around Milna were asked to be ready and to leave their homes if necessary. No concrete injuries or deaths were initially reported.

Measures and investigation of causes

Fire investigators and forestry authorities announced they would investigate the causes of the fires. Initial indications pointed to a combination of extreme heat, drought and human error, although no final findings were available at the time of reporting. The role of wind in the spread of the fire is also to be included in the analysis.

For the coming days, weather services expected a slight calming of conditions, which should increase the chances of containment. Nevertheless, response teams warned that individual smoldering hotspots could reignite days later. The fire department therefore maintained its heightened alert posture.

Impact on tourism and transport

Tourism providers on Brač and in the Split-Dalmatia region were likewise monitoring the situation closely. Numerous ferry connections and excursion trips between the mainland and the Adriatic islands were adjusted to circumstances or temporarily limited. Travelers were asked to check on the current status of connections before departing.

Scientists pointed in this context to the general trend of more frequent and more intense forest fires in Southern Europe. A direct link between individual fires and climate change is difficult to establish in each case, but the frequency of extreme weather conditions during the summer months has increased significantly in recent years.

The costs of fighting the fire and the subsequent reforestation of the affected areas are not yet foreseeable. In previous years, Croatia had received multiple disbursements from European aid funds for civil protection, which could now be drawn upon to deal with the damage on Brač.

Overall, according to the authorities' assessment, the course of the fire on Brač illustrates how vulnerable Mediterranean islands are during drought periods. The fire department appealed to the public to avoid open fires outdoors and to report suspicious smoke developments immediately in order to prevent renewed spread.