Bečić: Our aircraft have so far dropped more than 3.7 million litres of water on wildfires

The intensive response of the competent services over the past 20 days has produced concrete results. Despite extremely unfavourable weather conditions and numerous challenges, the situation at the wildfire sites is currently stable. However, the complex circumstances require continuous monitoring, vigilance and maximum efforts.

During this period, Montenegro has faced wildfires at multiple locations across the country. Local protection and rescue services, volunteer firefighting associations, as well as the aerial units of the Ministry of the Interior and the Armed Forces have been engaged in almost continuous field operations. I once again extend my deep gratitude to all those involved. Thanks to timely action, good coordination and joint efforts, the fires have been brought largely under control, with the aim of preventing their spread and reducing potential consequences for the population, property and natural resources.

All available state resources will remain engaged for as long as necessary. During this wildfire season, Montenegro is operating six active aircraft in terms of its aerial firefighting capabilities.

The Ministry of the Interior’s Air-Helicopter Unit has been intensively engaged in firefighting operations across the country. Over the past 20 days, it has carried out 586 aerial firefighting flights, during which 2,305 tonnes of water were dropped on wildfire sites. Three AT-802 aircraft carried out 475 firefighting flights, dropping 1,425 tonnes of water, while the AN-32P aircraft carried out 110 firefighting flights and dropped 880 tonnes of water. These figures best illustrate the scale of the deployment of our aerial firefighting capabilities – the Air-Helicopter Unit’s aircraft were deployed over wildfire sites 585 times, with more than 2,300 tonnes of water directed at the flames. This provided crucial support to ground crews and made a significant contribution to protecting lives, property and natural resources.  

The Ministry of Defence has also been providing continuous support to firefighting operations, with the helicopters of the Armed Forces of Montenegro carrying out 143 flight hours and dropping 1,411 tonnes of water.

In total, our aircraft have dropped more than 3,700 tonnes of water on wildfire sites over the past 20 days, equivalent to more than 3.7 million litres of water.

According to this morning’s situation report, we can currently assess the situation at the wildfire sites as stable, while maintaining constant vigilance, monitoring and maximum engagement due to the complex circumstances. In the Podgorica area, a fire is active at the Kržanja–Kuči location, while a fire has been reported in the Ponikvica area of Danilovgrad. In Kolašin, active fires have been reported at Crni Vrh and Maganik; in Cetinje, at Bijele Poljane and Lastva; and in Nikšić, at Bogetići, Bijele Poljane, Krstac and Gradačka Poljana. Fires have also been reported in the Šavnik area, at Krnja Jela–Bare, as well as in the municipality of Bar, at Lisinj.

In order to ensure a more effective response and provide support to field crews, the Nikšić Protection and Rescue Service has requested the deployment of aircraft to the Bogetići area, while the Kolašin Protection and Rescue Service has requested aerial support for the Crni Vrh–Velji Duboko area. The Šavnik Protection and Rescue Service has also requested the deployment of aircraft to the Bare location.

The 112 Operational Communications Centre of the Ministry of the Interior remains in constant coordination with the competent services and directs available capacities in accordance with the situation on the ground.