Wildfire near Metković spreads out of control, 60 firefighters defend homes

A large forest fire broke out on Saturday afternoon on Rujnica hill above the villages of Podrujnica and Momići, in the Kula Norinska municipality near Metković in southern Croatia, putting emergency services in the area on high alert, Klix.ba reported. The fire is spreading out of control through Aleppo pine forest and undergrowth, though it has not yet directly threatened houses, said Jure Pilj, commander of the Metković public fire brigade.

"It is burning uncontrolled. At the moment it is not close to houses, but if the wind turns, that is a possibility," Pilj said, adding that the wind had since weakened, allowing firefighters to act more intensively.

About 60 firefighters are tackling the blaze on the ground, drawn from the public fire brigades of Metković and Ploče and from volunteer fire societies across the Neretva valley, Klix.ba and Radio Sarajevo reported. Further reinforcements are expected from other parts of Dubrovnik-Neretva County as the operation continues.

Hilly terrain covered in dense pine woodland is making the firefighters' work harder, and nightfall has grounded aerial firefighting aircraft such as Canadair water bombers. Ground crews will continue the operation through the night, with the priority being to stop the fire reaching the populated areas around Podrujnica and a second village, Čelići.

The road between Kula Norinska and Orepak, which runs through Podrujnica, Momići and Matijevići, has been closed for the firefighting operation. Drivers have been told to use alternative routes and follow instructions from police and fire services.

No injuries or damage to property have been reported so far, according to the outlets covering the fire. The blaze has also drawn coverage from media in neighbouring Bosnia and Serbia, including Klix.ba, Radio Sarajevo, Oslobođenje, Dnevni avaz and Danas, reflecting how closely the region is following the firefighting effort.