A massive forest fire in the Tjentište area, threatening century-old coniferous trees, has prompted the involvement of Serbian helicopters to assist in extinguishing the blaze. The helicopters from Serbia are joining the Helicopter Service of Republika Srpska and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with local firefighters and Civil Protection workers, to bring the fire under control.

Boban Kusturic, Director of the Republika Srpska Helicopter Service, stated, “We have been here for three to four days. With the help of our Serbian brothers, we now have the capacity to drop over five tons of water in one go. This cooperation is crucial to control the fire as quickly as possible.”

The challenging terrain, inaccessible by ground, is being tackled primarily by aerial efforts. Kusturic emphasized the importance of quick action, noting the high temperatures and strong winds that complicate the situation.

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Serbian helicopter pilot Jovica Mihajlovic, operating the “Super Puma” helicopter, noted, “The terrain is very difficult for firefighting, and the helicopter is the only effective tool in such conditions. This helicopter is designed specifically for fire suppression in hard-to-reach areas.”

Mihajlovic confirmed that Serbian helicopters were ready to assist earlier but only received diplomatic clearance today. He assured that all resources are now focused on extinguishing the fire.

This international aid follows a decision by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to request external assistance as the fire continues to spread in the region.