[INTERNATIONAL] · Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia · 100 sources

started 23 days ago · updated 21 days ago

Part of situation: Wildfires and emergency responses persist across the Balkans (21 clusters)

Balkan wildfires trigger emergency responses across multiple countries

wildfires Balkans emergency response arson investigations airborne smoke

Multiple regions across the Balkans are currently battling widespread wildfires. In Croatia, fires in Brod-Posavina County have burned at least 35 hectares, while another fire near Stari Slatinik affected 15 hectares. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, significant fires are active in the Pljesevica mountain area near Bihać, requiring helicopter support from the Armed Forces. Other active fronts include the Nevesinje municipality, Gacko, and Bileća, with high winds complicating containment efforts. In the Banja Luka region, firefighters worked through the night to control fires in Gornja Piskavica and Manjača. Smoke from these Bosnian wildfires has drifted across the Dalmatian coast in Croatia, causing elevated particulate levels and reduced visibility.

In Serbia, the Suva Planina wildfire continues to spread in three directions toward Gadžin Han, Niška Banja, and Bela Palanka, prompting the deployment of helicopters and a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft. Meanwhile, in Montenegro, authorities have processed over 10 individuals suspected of arson as part of an intensified crackdown on intentional fire-setting. The ecological group Ozon has called for rigorous evidence-based investigations into claims of arson, noting that some burned areas coincide with interests in solar farm development.

Entities

Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina · Banja Luka · Bihać · Bileća · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brod-Posavina County · Center for Crisis Management · City of Bihać · Croatia · Dalmatia · Denis Bećirović · Drvar

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Steep and inaccessible terrain is complicating firefighting efforts. resetka.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] Firefighters and Srbijašuma workers are active on the terrain to combat the Suva planina fire. resetka.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] The fire spread from villages in the Bela Palanka municipality toward the Niš region. vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 4 SOURCES] The fire is most active near the Devojački grob junction at an altitude of 1,300 meters. resetka.rs · vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 6 SOURCES] A Russian Ilyushin firefighting aircraft has performed sorties to assist in extinguishing the fire. resetka.rs · n1info.hr · novi.ba · vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] The fire has approached the Devojački grob area and hiking trails leading to Trem. resetka.rs · vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 3 SOURCES] Steep and inaccessible terrain is complicating firefighting efforts on Suva planina. resetka.rs · vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 5 SOURCES] Dry vegetation and strong winds are causing the fire to spread rapidly. vojvodjanskireporter.rs · resetka.rs
[● 4 SOURCES] Firefighters and Srbijašuma workers are actively combating the Suva planina fire. resetka.rs · n1info.hr · vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 4 SOURCES] The fire on Suva planina is spreading due to dry vegetation and strong winds. resetka.rs · vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 5 SOURCES] The fire on Suva planina is difficult to extinguish due to steep and inaccessible terrain. resetka.rs · vojvodjanskireporter.rs
[● 6 SOURCES] The fire on Suva planina has spread from Bela Palanka municipality toward the Niš region. resetka.rs · novi.ba · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · n1info.hr