Serbia's fire protection is improvisation, says opposition

Serbia's opposition party Srbija centar has sharply criticized the nation's fire protection measures, labeling them as mere improvisation rather than a functional system. The party pointed to the recent fire in Deliblatska Peščara, which scorched approximately 1,500 hectares by August 9 and forced the evacuation of residents from Čardak and Šumark, as evidence of a systemic failure.

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The fire in Deliblatska Peščara, which by August 9 had affected about 1,500 hectares and led to the evacuation of residents of Čardak and Šumark, once again showed what we see in Serbia after every major emergency: the state reacts when the problem has already become large, while prevention and preparation remain on the sidelines.

"The fire in Deliblatska Peščara... once again showed what we see in Serbia after every major emergency: the state reacts when the problem has already become large, while prevention and preparation remain on the sidelines," the party's committee for defense and internal affairs stated. They emphasized that emergency situation headquarters should not convene only when a fire is already raging, but should proactively check readiness, responsibilities, and procedures.

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Emergency situation headquarters do not exist to convene when a fire is already burning, but to check beforehand what is ready, who is responsible, and what is being done if a fire occurs.

Srbija centar is calling for more than just reports and praise for the firefighters who battled the blaze. The party insists on a public presentation of the true condition of the protection and rescue system. "They did their job under extremely difficult conditions and deserve respect for that. But their effort must not serve as a substitute for answering the question of where the system failed," the party declared.

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Their effort must not serve as a substitute for answering the question of where the system failed.