Helicopters of the Armed Forces of BiH and the Croatian Ministry of Defence are extinguishing the fire on Blidinje

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Helicopters of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia are also participating in extinguishing the large fire that has been raging for the tenth day on Čvrsnica in the Blidinje Nature Park this morning.

"I hope they will at least slightly ease the work of our ground forces who are constantly on the ground," said Drago Martinović, director of the Civil Protection Administration of the West Herzegovina Canton.

He pointed out that more than 250 hectares have been burned so far. Numerous firefighters, members of mountain rescue services, forestry workers, mountaineers, and volunteers are on the ground.

According to Martinović, weekend settlements are not threatened for now, but the situation is changing from minute to minute. 

He particularly warned about the destruction of endemic plant and animal species.

"The fire has caused immeasurable damage to these species (...) I think this damage can already be measured in millions of convertible marks," said Martinović.

Due to the inaccessible terrain, dense vegetation and wind of changing direction, as well as high daily temperatures, despite the activation of all available forces, the fire on Čvrsnica continues to spread through dense pine forests and low vegetation, creating new fire lines accompanied by open flames.