Wildfire on Croatian island of Brač burns 3,500 hectares and forces 230 evacuations

Overnight evacuations near Milna

Authorities ordered urgent evacuations shortly before midnight on Saturday as flames pushed by strong Bura winds approached residential structures around the western municipality of Milna. Approximately 230 residents and tourists were evacuated from coastal settlements and nearby coves, including Osibova and Baterija. Evacuation operations relied on vessels from the maritime police, harbor master boats, and private crafts to transport individuals away from threatened shorelines. Emergency services sheltered evacuees in local hotels and reception centers. Power grid operators disconnected the local electricity substation in Milna during the night as the fire line advanced. Several people were treated for smoke inhalation, and two individuals were transported to the hospital in Split with minor injuries.

Emergency deployment and containment operations

More than 220 firefighters and 69 emergency vehicles operated across the island overnight to protect residential settlements. Regional emergency services sent reinforcements by ferry on Saturday evening, deploying additional crews from Split, Dubrovnik, and Šibenik. Firefighting conditions improved on Sunday morning as wind speeds decreased across Dalmatia, enabling four Canadair CL-415 water-bombing planes to begin aerial drops at daybreak. National fire commander Slavko Tucaković detailed the overnight operation and property protection efforts in an official statement.

“Firefighters saved a large number of residential buildings and helped ensure the safety of tourists and residents. Some damage was recorded on facades and awnings. Two people were slightly injured.”

Firefighters220

Emergency vehicles69

Canadair aircraft4

Firefighters

220

Emergency vehicles

69

Canadair aircraft

4

Data from the article text

Land area burned and structural damage

The fire burned approximately 3,500 hectares of pine forest, maquis, and grassland, concentrated around the bays of Ložišća, Bobovišća, and Milna. Geography professor Jurica Gašpar estimated that the burned zone represents 10% of Brač, which spans 395 square kilometers (39,500 hectares) as the largest island in Dalmatia. While firefighters stopped flames from destroying entire residential centers, several properties sustained exterior damage, and some buildings were damaged or burned down. Ground operations faced persistent challenges from difficult terrain and recurring flare-ups in glowing embers. Authorities instituted a strict open-fire ban across the island and instructed visitors to avoid the perimeter of the burn zone.

Ignition and seasonal weather context

The fire originated on Thursday, 10 September, shortly after 22:00 in the area between Ložišća and Grabovica, with authorities suspecting a lightning strike as the initial cause. Fire spread rapidly across dry brush due to extreme summer temperatures and a prolonged lack of rainfall throughout Croatia. Firefighting officials confirmed on Sunday morning that the blaze remained active, though reduced wind velocity permitted ground crews to secure priority perimeters.

“After an extremely difficult night, the situation markedly improved this morning.”