Croatia: A wildfire threatens homes on the island of Brac after destroying 3,000 hectares

Sunday 13 September 2026 - 07:44

A major forest fire is advancing on the Croatian island of Brac, where nearly 3,000 hectares of vegetation have already been destroyed. As the flames move closer to the homes in Milna, authorities activated an alert system for residents and tourists on Saturday evening.

The situation remains concerning on Brac. The fire, which started Thursday evening in the west of the island, continues to require significant emergency resources as strong winds, regularly changing direction, complicate the firefighters' efforts.

Several Canadair water bombers are participating in the operations to try to contain the flames. Despite these reinforcements, the fire was still not under control by Saturday evening.

Flames are approaching Milna

After covering approximately 3,000 hectares of pine forests and scrubland, the fire has moved closer to Milna, a locality of about a thousand inhabitants located in the west of Brac.

The national fire brigade command has confirmed that the front is active near populated areas. All available teams have been mobilized to limit the fire's progression and protect homes.

In response to this development, authorities have activated an alert system sent directly to the population's phones. This measure also targets people present on the island, including tourists. At this stage, however, no organized evacuation has been announced.

Particularly unfavorable weather conditions

The rapid progression of the flames occurs within a particularly difficult meteorological context. Croatia has experienced several episodes of extreme heat during the summer, accompanied by a significant deficit of rainfall.

These conditions have severely dried out forested areas and Mediterranean vegetation zones, favoring the spread of fires. The gusts observed on Brac also make it difficult to anticipate the fire's evolution, especially due to the changing wind directions.

Brac, one of the main islands in the Croatian Adriatic, is located off the coast of Split. It is very popular during the summer season and is particularly exposed to the risks of wildfires when temperatures remain high and the soil is severely dried out.