A fire broke out in the forested area of Goriška Karst this morning. Headaches are caused by strong winds fanning the fire. Rumors that the fire was set are not true – it was disinformation. Two airplanes – air tractors, which will help as long as it is still light, are of great help to the firefighters.
Due to the westerly wind, the fire spread rapidly in the morning towards the slopes of Trstelje and from the Sežana side, it passed to the area of the Kostanjeviška municipality. Simon Vendarmin, the commander of professional firefighters from Novi Gori, told STA that the first active firefighters were Goriška or Nova Gorica and Šempetra. He said that firefighters from southern Primorska, or the coastal-karst region, are also on the ground. According to the data of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Protection and Rescue, 45 firefighting units and the state unit for aerial firefighting were activated immediately in the morning. As confirmed to us by the regional headquarters of the Civil Defense for northern Primorska, he is the commander of the CZ Lucky Šestan already activated the national protection and rescue plan. Meanwhile, the fire spread towards Nova Gorica. It does not burn in the part that was ravaged by a catastrophic fire two years ago. Firefighters from the Northern Littoral and Coastal Karst regions are on the ground, he later explained to Svet24TV Vendramin. There are 70 fire departments, “that’s more than 200 members of the fire department, plus other members of the civil defense and foresters, members of the NUS and the police.”
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According to him, they will at least try to limit the fire today, even though a stronger gale is forecast. He estimated that the intervention itself will not be completed today and Friday and that it will last a few more days, as it will be necessary to provide a fire guard at the fire site depending on the situation. According to the data of the Institute of Forests of the Republic of Slovenia, the fire covered around 150 hectares of forested areas. In the afternoon, however, the first good news came, the firefighters have the fire under control, and the situation is not getting any worse.
Jure Klobčar
Marko Adamič explained that firefighting planes are a great added value, especially since it is an impassable terrain.
Deputy Commander of the Fire Brigade of Slovenia Marko Adamic at 5:00 p.m., he held back a little from jumping to conclusions about the fact that everything is under control. He described that quickly after the fire broke out, they knew it was a bigger fire. They activated air tractors, planes that are very effective on impassable terrain and a great help to firefighters. “If they weren’t there, over 400 hectares would have burned, but now around 150,” Adamic said. At night, when the airplanes and helicopters will no longer be able to help, the firefighters will have a hard job, they will lay pipelines and water to completely stop the fire. They know where the critical points are where a fire can get out of control, but they will do everything they can to prevent it from happening.
Vendramin added that another larger line is open on the northern side of Trstelj. No facilities are currently at risk. Extinguishing on the field itself is made difficult by the high heat. Three firefighters became ill during the firefighting, but the medical services treated them properly and they are now feeling better.
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The transmission tower is protected
Vendramin said in the morning that the fire threatens the cottage on Trstelj and the local infrastructure. During the intervention, a small evacuation of the sheep that were on Trstelje was carried out. The local power grid is switched off, and they are still waiting for the interstate power grid to be switched off. The civil protection for northern Primorska later announced that the firefighters managed to protect the cabin on Trstelje and the transmission tower.
Settlements are not threatened
According to Mayor Komno Erika Modica no settlement is currently threatened. He also said that fortunately the area is not as dry as it was during the catastrophic fire two years ago. “Firemen and emergency services are on site. Two air tractors are also putting out the fire. The first priority is the protection of the antennas on the top of Trstelje. The settlements are not threatened. Fortunately, the alleged second fire near Ivanje Grad was just a false alarm due to the smoke coming from Trstelje ,” he wrote on Facebook.
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In the air of the air tractor
A single air tractor can transport 3000 liters of water, while ordinary helicopters have a capacity of up to 900 liters of water.
According to Primorske novic, a police helicopter is searching for the fire’s hotspots, while two air tractors are also in the air, collecting water from the sea, where three special locations have been determined. The planes first dropped water on the fire shortly before 11 a.m. and then returned to get new supplies. A single air tractor can transport 3000 liters of water, while ordinary helicopters have a capacity of up to 900 liters of water. Two Slovenian helicopters, a police and a military one, traveled to North Macedonia a few days ago, where they are helping to put out numerous large-scale fires raging across the country. They won’t be back for now.
That air tractors have played the most important role in firefighting so far, which “they showed how to prevent the spread of fire in a short time,” the State Secretary at the Ministry of Defense said in today’s statement to the media, according to the N1 portal Damir Črnčec, who also emphasized that the systems of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Protection and Rescue and the Slovenian Army (SV) are working. The Slovenian Army announced via the X network that Bell 412 and Cougar helicopter crews are also involved in extinguishing the fire on the Karst. They added that additional forces and assets are also on standby, which will be activated depending on the needs on the ground. That they are expected was also confirmed by Šestan, who also said that, if necessary, Pilatus will also take off.
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The fire was not started
In the meantime, he is the commander of the Civil Defense headquarters for Notranjska Sandy Curk asked the residents of the fire area to give priority to emergency vehicles and not to enter the fire scene for their own safety. Several police patrols are also present at the site, announced the Koper Police Department, which for the time being closed the Komen – Šibelji road and from Komno to Ivanjeme Castle. Residents were urged not to approach the fire and to follow the instructions of the police, firefighters and others who are putting out the fire and not to obstruct their work. A ban on flying drones also applies in the area of the fire.
At the same time, the police responded to speculation that today’s fire was arson. The director general of the police, Senad Jušić, said that it was disinformation, and an intensive criminal investigation, gathering of information and inspection of the field is underway.
In Primorska, there was a high risk of fire during these days. The Administration for Protection and Rescue declared it to be the areas of Istria, Karst, Postojna, Pivka, Ilirska Bistrica, Vipava Valley, Goriška, Brd and Kanal.
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The Rescualni pas Institute warns drivers not to record and photograph the fire while driving, and to pay attention to the large number of emergency vehicles. “Drive safely and make sure that the firefighters do not have additional work with traffic accidents. Do not join the convoys of fire engines and give them priority. Create a rescue lane in every traffic jam.”
A call to maintain the transportability of forest roads and fire crossings
The fire in the Karst spreads quickly due to the wind and can quickly change direction, so the Slovenian Forestry Institute urges forest owners not to enter the forests in the Karst area during the intervention period. In case of felling, machinery should be removed from this area as soon as possible, thus ensuring the transportability of forest roads, trains and fire protection crossings. It also urges hikers, recreationists and other visitors to redirect their activities to other areas and not obstruct the access of intervention services.
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The Slovenian president has already commented on the fire on social network X Nataša Pirc Musarwhich called on residents in “these difficult moments” to remain calm and strictly follow the instructions of the competent services. “At the same time, I express my sincere gratitude and support to the firefighters and everyone who selflessly fights the fire. Your dedication is priceless, and in the given conditions I wish you to do your work as safely as possible. We are strong together. Let’s stay safe.”
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Bobo
That’s how the air tractor shuts down.
Source: svet24.si
