A fire is burning on 30 hectares in a hard-to-reach area near Kočevska Reka, with planes taking water from Kvarner.
The extent of the fire is still unknown, villagers call for additional assistance
Above the village of Borovec near Kočevska Reka, the fire reignited on Friday evening. The fire, which spread due to strong winds over more than 30 hectares of hard-to-reach and steep forested area, is also being extinguished with airtractors and a helicopter.
The fire, which firefighters, helicopter and aircraft crews have been fighting for the third day above the village of Borovec near Kočevska Reka, has not yet been extinguished. The fire is raging on the plateau above Bosljiva Loka in the municipality of Osilnica, which is on the other side of the hill when viewed from the direction of Borovec; our reader Jože Gorše reported the more precise location of the fire.
As reported by the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, the situation remains challenging despite the efforts of six volunteer fire brigades, which can intervene only limitedly due to the demanding terrain.
The fire is being contained as much as possible from the air, with planes taking water from the Kvarner Gulf, for which the Slovenian Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief thanks their Croatian colleagues.
Still burning near the Krokar virgin forest. Photo: PGD Kočevska Reka
Still burning near the Krokar virgin forest. Photo: PGD Kočevska Reka
Locals worried
"At night, a glowing glow and smoke were visible above the peaks of Krokar and Krempa, the smell of smoke is noticeable in the villages. There is a fire watch on the site, and extinguishing continues in the morning. It is concerning that strong winds are forecast for tomorrow, raising fears that the fire will spread over the ridge and threaten the villages," the villagers of Borovec reported to MMC late in the evening.
The fire is burning in the immediate vicinity of the Krokar virgin forest, which is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, so the villagers are warning all those responsible of the seriousness of the situation and calling for additional assistance to the firefighters on the "inaccessible and dangerous" terrain.
The fire above the village of Borovec near Kočevska Reka started already on Wednesday. As reported by the Ljubljana Police Administration on Thursday, the fire was most likely started by a lightning strike. Police in the helicopter, police on the ground, and firefighters managed to prevent a major fire in time, which could have been difficult to control due to the inaccessibility of the terrain, as stated by the Ljubljana police administration at the time.
Source:
https://www.rtvslo.si/crna-kronika/na-tezko-dostopnem-obmocju-pri-kocevski-reki-gori-na-30-hektarjih-letali-vodo-zajemata-v-kvarnerju/718242