Villagers and firefighters unite to battle Deliblatska Peščara wildfire

The village of Grebenac, situated on the border of Serbia's Deliblatska Peščara, narrowly escaped a devastating wildfire that raged for days. The blaze, described by locals as immense and unlike anything seen before, required a combined effort from professional firefighters and the community to bring under control.

Jonel Živan, a 40-year-old resident of Grebenac, recounted the intensity of the fire, stating he had never witnessed such a large and high-reaching blaze, even in films. During the most critical phase, residents like Petar Lungu joined firefighters on the front lines. Now that the immediate danger has passed, Lungu and others are preparing meals, such as game goulash, for the firefighters and volunteers who participated in the efforts.

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I have never seen such a fire, so high, so huge. I am 40 years old and have never seen such a fire.

The local primary school in Grebenac has transformed into a hub for aid, receiving donations from across Serbia. The shared experience of fighting the fire has fostered a strong sense of unity among the residents. With the fire extinguished, the community's attention has turned to the welfare of the local wildlife, which fled their habitats to escape the flames.

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We prepare something different every day.

Hunters are now actively involved in providing food and water for the displaced animals. They are identifying animal trails and digging waterholes in areas the fire did not reach. Nikola Morariju described the difficulty of digging in the dry, hard earth, while hunter Aurel Manču explained how wild boars can smell water from up to a kilometer away, and deer are guided to water sources placed along their usual paths.

While hunters have not yet found any deceased animals, they have witnessed numerous animals fleeing the fire. They remain hopeful that most have survived, though the scarred landscape suggests some may not have been fast enough to escape the inferno.

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Wild boars can smell it from a great distance, up to a kilometer. Deer move along trails, so we place water where the trails are, meaning they pass by and smell it; they all smell water.