Fire line near Trebinje longer than 20 km, helicopters from Serbia will also assist

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A helicopter of the RS Helicopter Service began operations this morning in the area of Mount Bijela Gora near Trebinje, where a pine forest is burning, while the arrival of two helicopters from Serbia is expected around 10 a.m., said Zdravko Kašiković, commander of the Territorial Firefighting Unit from that city.

He stated that they are installing a mobile pool at another location so that members of the Ministry of Interior of Serbia have everything ready for action.

Kašiković told RTRS that the helicopter of the RS Helicopter Service will operate as long as conditions allow.

He noted that the fire line is completely covered in smoke this morning, and they cannot assess its actual size, but it is certainly more than 20 kilometers.

“We saved people and their homes, but unfortunately we failed to save our beautiful nature, as a large coniferous forest has burned,” said Kašiković.

According to Boban Kusturić, director of the Helicopter Service, this is the largest fire they have fought in the RS area, far bigger than the one in Vrbanja, near Blidinje Lake, and in Sutjeska National Park.

“Yesterday, the fire threatened to endanger houses in one part, because it spreads extremely quickly, the wind is strong, and it is completely unpredictable, changing direction. The direction of the fire changes from hour to hour. It is difficult, but we are trying our best to prevent the spread of this fire,” Kusturić emphasized.

He stated that they have been at this fire site since yesterday at 6:30 p.m., after finishing extinguishing operations in Vrbanja near Banja Luka, and they worked in cooperation with firefighters from Trebinje and the Republic Administration of Civil Protection.

“Yesterday, at the request of Trebinje Mayor Mirko Ćurić and the director of the Republic Administration of Civil Protection, Milan Novitović, we transferred two helicopters to the area of this city. Last night, we made 21 flights and dropped about 16 tons of water,” said Kusturić.