Montenegrin authorities have detained a Polish citizen who allegedly started a wildfire that threatens the city of Bar. The man reportedly lit the fire to signal his position after getting lost in the nearby hills.
Montenegro has been hit by several forest fires this summer, including the one near the town of Tivat last monthImage: Reuters/S. Vasiljevic
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Firefighters were battling the blaze at Montenegro's Adriatic coast on Wednesday, as high winds carried the fire from the hill of Susanj to the periphery of Bar. The officials deployed two airplanes and firefighting teams from across the small Balkan country.
The situation was "complex, but not critical," according to rescue chief Velizar Cadjenovic.
"The Susanj fire is not under control yet and it's spreading in two directions," he told the local media.
The officials asked the locals to cut down shrubbery in a bid to slow down the spread of the blaze.
Wildfires rage through Southeast Europe
Fire fighters have been battling to contain several wildfires in Southeast Europe. Some believe that they were caused by arson. As temperatures remain extremely hot the danger may not yet be fully contained.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/F. Arena
Too close for comfort
Smoke and flames rise from a fire in the Croatian village of Podstrana, near the Adriatic coastal town of Split, on July 18, 2017. In Croatia, the blazes have spread over several locations along the coast and onto the islands, engulfing pine forests and low shrubbery in extremely dry and windy weather.
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Hope for the best
While there were no reports of casualties and the fires only reached a few homes, some people could only stand by and watch as the flames razed everything in their path, especially nature. Fires between the Croatian town of Omis and Split have reportedly destroyed 4,500 hectares of forest.
Image: Reuters/A. Bronic
Desperate times
Forest fires are common in southern Europe each summer, and can sometimes be caused by reckless tourists. However, there have also been cases where speculators have deliberately set fire to properties seeking new land to build on. Croatian news media are already speculating about arson, as fires started in more than 20 sites in Croatia alone.
Image: Reuters/A. Bronic
All hands on deck
Firefighters used aircraft to try to tackle the flames, which continued overnight in both Croatia and neighboring Montenegro. With fires raging on the mainland as well as on islands such as Pag and Vir, the military was also called in to help in both countries. Montenegro also requested NATO's assistance.
Image: Reuters/A. Bronic
Situation mostly under control
Fires that have raged for days in neighboring Montenegro have been brought under control, with soldiers helping to put out blazes on the Lustica peninsula near the town of Tivat. Some remote areas of Montenegro continue to be affected.
Image: Reuters/S. Vasiljevic
Full picture of damage yet to emerge
More than 100 tourists had to be brought to safety in Montenegro alone, as wildfires came threatening close to human habitats. The full extent of the damage remains unknown, as there is still some work to do to stop the fires and prevent future blayes in coming days, as temperatures are expected to soar.
Image: Reuters/S. Vasiljevic
Large parts of southern Europe affected
Europe has been experiencing an unusual heatwave this summer, with temperatures approaching record levels in many places. Southern Italy had to deal with its own wildfires less than a week earlier. The blames consumed swathes of land in the provinces of Cosenza (pictured here) and Salerno as well as parts of Sicily. Portugal was also affected by wildfires a month ago.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/F. Arena
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Hunters find Polish climber
In his previous media appearance on Tuesday, Cadjenovic said that flames spread through areas which are remote and difficult to access. He also blamed a Polish citizen for the wildfire.
"I have been informed that the fire was started by a mountaineer from Poland, who got lost on the hill and lit the fire to show his position. However, wind and dry vegetation caused it spread to large sections of the hill," he told the local Vijesti newspaper.
A group of local hunters found the Polish man late on Tuesday, according to state TV. He was immediately detained for endangering the public.
