Srebrenica: State of emergency declared in Luka local community due to fire

(Patria) – The Srebrenica Municipality Protection and Rescue Headquarters declared a state of emergency in the Luka local community due to a large fire that, under the influence of strong winds, is spreading across inaccessible cliffs in the Drina canyon and threatening residential buildings.

The Mayor, Miloš Vučić, told Srna that four weekend houses that were in direct danger from the fire have been successfully defended, but that access to the terrain is extremely difficult and that extinguishing the fire is impossible without helicopter support.

"For several days, the fire has been spreading along the cliffs, but today's wind has further worsened the situation. The fire has gotten out of control and spread from the gorge towards the village, where firefighters, workers from the Forestry Department, and the 'Drina' National Park have been fighting on the ground for days," said Vučić.

He added that all available human and technical reserves have been dispatched to help, but that the fire is spreading with incredible speed due to dry grass and vegetation.

"I was personally on the ground and helped extinguish it. The terrain is extremely inaccessible. We have sent a request to the Helicopter Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, and we hope their air support will arrive tomorrow," the Mayor emphasized.

The fire broke out four days ago in the Šarena bukva area, where it was localized in accessible parts, but it continued to spread uncontrollably through difficult-to-access cliffs, and today, under gusts of wind, it reached the populated area of the village of Luka.

Firefighters, foresters, locals, and workers from the National Park are on the ground, making maximum efforts to prevent the fire from entering the village and to protect the lives and property of the residents.