In recent years, devastating fires, called megafires, have been multiplying around the world. Croatia is no exception. While they are often of human origin, rising temperatures, drought and strong winds closely linked to climate change complicate the task of firefighters. In search of more effective strategies to combat them, the country is innovating by relying on new technologies. Report near Split, on the Adriatic coast.
From our special correspondent in Croatia,
TikTok, video cameras, military drones, weather databases: the Croatian command center for firefighting operations has made the rapid transmission of real-time information a priority. But in the utmost secrecy, since the location of this control room leaves the GPS perplexed. However, its location was not left to chance.
” It is the coastal part of the country which is most affected by the fires. So that’s where we set up the command center.explains Joško Grančić, deputy head of the Croatian Coastal Fire Brigade Association (Hrvatska Vatrogasna Zajednica, HVZ). From June to September, it is officially the fire season in Croatia. Everything happens here. Our job is to coordinate the action of all firefighters, collaborating with the Croatian army, the police and civil security. »
On the large central screen, the map of the Croatia with its 1,200 islands, islets and coves: almost 150 cameras, which monitor the situation in real time, appear in green. In red, we can see the radio communication equipment. The blue signals are the GPS positions of the firefighters’ land vehicles. The planes, based in Zadar and capable of taking off quickly, are also visible. Military drones provide an overview of the situation as a whole. In total, more than 4,000 GPS trackers, as well as geographic information systems for mapping disaster areas, allow the implementation of a strategy on the ground or in the air. Attack every fire with all available forces “, is the strategy chosen by Croatian firefighters.
For a moment, you could believe you were in a huge board game. That would be forgetting a little too quickly that the adversary is very real and above all formidable. In a very short time, the flames can become uncontrollable, ravage areas of several thousand hectares and endanger the inhabitants and tourists, many in the region.
Read alsoFive questions about mega-fires
A radio call sounds. A fire has just broken out. We don’t know yet what triggered it, it will be up to the Ministry of the Interior to investigate. But according to the information gathered on the ground, it is quite important, it is located in a difficult area, an island. There are no trucks on site. So a plane is going to take off. It will be there in 10 minutesexplains Tomislav Blažević, who has been working at the command centre for two years. We can plan how long it will take for this plane to arrive, drop the water and circle back. Maybe a minute or less because it is close to the sea. “.
Ultra-precise trend data to facilitate decision-making
Wind, while good for navigation, is formidable when fighting fires. It promotes the drying out of plants and soil, increases the risk of fires starting and accelerates the migration of a fire. In addition, if it is very strong, planes cannot take off and intervene. And the presence of mountains on the coastline does not help. Ultra-precise weather databases are therefore available.
” National level forecasts are not adequate. So we are asking weather services to make different forecasts at micro-locations”, specifies Tomislav Blažević. “ Previous forest fires in Croatia are being closely studied to identify trends and common fire patterns. The data collected helps improve hazard monitoring. “, confirms Petra Sviličić, agrometeorologist at the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service in Zagreb, and to issue alerts more quickly.
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Social networks useful for raising the alarm
The summer period is the most risky. And the most monitored due to the very large number of tourists arriving. In July 2023, a major fire broke out in Ciovo, very close to Split. ” The very first alert was given by images from the social network TikTok around 3:29 p.m., corroborated by the smoke visible thanks to the surveillance cameras. On July 27 at 3:31 p.m., the firefighters were therefore aware of a fire starting. The dispatch of two Canadair CL-415s was confirmed at 3:35 p.m. Additional forces were requested from the neighboring county at 3:36 p.m. “, explains Marin Buble, a firefighter for 24 years, head of the Trogir brigade who coordinated all the land firefighting teams.
” The drones, equipped with thermal cameras, allow teams to assess the danger of areas, to locate people trapped “, explains Marin Buble. He communicates with them via different radio frequencies. ” It is important to communicate well to give your position or ask for reinforcements, and also with the guys in the planes. We must stay together “, proudly explains Marin, 21, a volunteer firefighter in Slatine, a village on the island of Ciovo.
” Last summer was my first season fighting fires. At first, you don’t know what to expect. You’re scared at times. But you trust your colleagues. What was complicated was the terrain. You had to walk three or four kilometers to fight the flames. The wind also made the situation worse. “, remembers Marin stoically, who was able to take advantage of new vehicles better adapted to forest interventions financed by the project “Upgrading of the Republic of Croatia’s fire-brigade” of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In total, 94 trucks with the most recent technological equipment were deployed on Croatian territory.
After six days of fighting, 603 hectares of olive and pine trees, which are particularly flammable, burned on the island of Ciovo. But there was no need for evacuations and, above all, there were no civilian casualties and no firefighters were injured.
Also listen toWhy so many fires?
Increase resources
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that the ” mega-fires » will increase by 50% by the end of the century. Better predicting the behavior of forest fires therefore represents a major challenge where all technological innovations will be welcome. The European Union has put itself in battle order in this context with adequate funding.
The civil protection mechanism was reinforced in 2019 by rescEU, a European fleet that includes firefighting planes and helicopters. Croatia is part of it. In 2021, we sent a Canadair to Türkiye, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2022, we also helped the Republic of Slovenia. And last season we sent our Canadair and its team three times in Greece “, explains Joško Grančić, deputy head of the Croatian Coastal Fire Brigade Association (HVZ).
UN warns of increase in ‘megafires’