Fire rages across inaccessible Mount Cvrsnica terrain as air drops continue

All available firefighting units from Jablanica, alongside neighbouring towns and municipalities, have been deployed as the blaze continues to spread. Firefighters from Capljina were engaged on the scene from 8 am to 9:30 am, supported by firefighting forces from Jablanica, Mostar, and Prozor-Rama.

Aerial assistance has been deployed to combat the blaze. An Air Tractor completed ten passes, while a helicopter conducted 17 passes over the affected area. Due to the further spread of the fire, international assistance has been requested, including the engagement of two Canadair water-bombing aircraft from Croatia.

The wildfire at this location has been active since 12 September, with initial reports from civil institutions indicating it was first observed two days prior at the Razvale site at an altitude of 1,850 metres.

A UH-1H-II helicopter belonging to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the 2nd Helicopter Squadron of the Air Force and Air Defence Brigade, continues its firefighting mission over Mount Cvrsnica today. Operating under procedures to assist civil institutions, a squadron helicopter completed two passes yesterday, each lasting two hours. During these operations, a total of 18,000 litres of water was dropped using a fire bucket with a capacity of approximately 1,000 litres.

Flight operations above Cvrsnica, one of the highest mountains in Bosnia and the highest in its southern region of Herzegovina, present significant challenges during the summer months. High temperatures exert an additional load on helicopter engines, while strong winds and dense smoke reduce visibility, adding further operational demands on flight crews.