Rain brings hope to Korčula firefighters battling wildfire

Rain arrived overnight on the island of Korčula, Croatia, offering crucial relief to firefighters battling a significant wildfire between Blato and Smokvica. The much-needed precipitation has slowed the fire's advance and improved conditions at the scene, though the blaze remains not entirely under control.

According to the county fire chief, Stjepan Simović, the affected area received between 10 and 13 liters of rain per square meter overnight. Official measurements in nearby Čara recorded 16.5 liters per square meter. Simović stated the situation looks considerably better post-rainfall but cautioned that the danger persists due to dense pine forests and challenging terrain.

Firefighters are using drones to further assess the situation. This is particularly important as embers can remain in tree stumps, roots, and dry vegetation, potentially causing the fire to flare up again once the rain stops. Consequently, crews must maintain vigilant patrols and remediation efforts even after the rain.

The scale of the fire is substantial, covering an area approximately four kilometers long and between 1.5 to two kilometers wide in places. All firefighting forces that worked through the night remain on site. Reinforcements of 85 firefighters from several counties were expected, bringing the total to around 220 personnel. The local fire department in Smokvica expressed gratitude for the rain on Facebook, posting photos of the scorched landscape with the message, "Thank you for the rain. We welcomed the dawn with rain."

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Thank you for the rain. We welcomed the dawn with rain.