Elderly woman refuses to evacuate wildfire zone, stays with her 13 dogs

Mira Jevtić, a 72-year-old resident of Trujino Naselje, has earned the nickname 'forest fairy' following wildfires that engulfed Deliblatska Peščara. Her story gained widespread attention on social media when she refused to evacuate her home on the night of August 20-21, prioritizing her 13 dogs and four cats over her own safety.

When authorities ordered an evacuation as flames approached within 300 meters of homes, Jevtić was confronted by police. "They came, saying Aunt Mira, Aunt Mira, it's reached Pega, come on, come on... I said, 'And them?' They said they'll manage. I said, 'But I can't,'" she recounted. Her unwavering resolve to stay with her animals, many of whom are rescues, was clear. "I said if they have to burn, I'll burn with them. I won't leave them. First, even if there's no fire, they'll be thirsty and hungry. Who will feed them when no one is around? To put them in the position they were in again – that was out of the question," Jevtić stated.

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If they have to burn, I'll burn with them. I won't leave them.

Jevtić, a retired speech therapist, has been living without electricity or running water for over a week, relying on neighbors for assistance. She expressed gratitude to a neighbor for fixing her water pump and to "Veterinarians Without Borders" for providing food for her animals. "For them, bread; for me, plasma, instant polenta, meatloaf, snacks – meaning there's something to eat. We'll survive..." she said, though she admitted her own diet is basic.

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First, even if there's no fire, they'll be thirsty and hungry. Who will feed them when no one is around? To put them in the position they were in again – that was out of the question.

Despite the hardships, Jevtić remains defiant about her decision. "I won't give them up! If I could stop the sandpit, but they took the sandpit! And they took it brutally, tears came to my eyes this morning," she lamented. She holds "Vojvodinašume" (Vojvodina Forests) and "Elektrodistribucija" (power distribution) responsible for the fire's severity, citing poor maintenance of forest clearings and power lines. "Look at the cable! In the trees! What do you think will happen when stronger wind comes? If fire starts, what will happen?" she questioned.

While grateful to Luka Čaušić, head of the sector for emergency situations, for ensuring the settlement's protection, Jevtić doubts anyone will be held accountable for the fires. Her primary wishes are for accountability and a return to normalcy in her life.

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Look at the cable! In the trees! What do you think will happen when stronger wind comes? If fire starts, what will happen?