Very few new trees perished during the fire on the Gorica hill, and we were lucky that the area affected was only the legacy of the previous big fire, the director of the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas told "Vijesta" Jasna Gajević.
Two nights ago, the fire engulfed a large part of the hill and the surrounding forest, and it is suspected that it was caused by fireworks, which is why yesterday the police filed a criminal complaint against DI (45)
Yesterday, the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) announced that, after the fire reactivated, "the helicopter unit of the MUP provided support by using a fire-fighting aircraft."
"Also, drones with thermal imaging cameras were used to identify the hot spot and start soaking the burned area. All the capacities of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue of the MUP have been put on full alert in case of need," the MUP announced.
From that department, they again appealed to citizens not to use pyrotechnics and light fires in the open during the ban, especially in conditions of increased fire danger.
Iković: Gorica must be better guarded
Biologist Vuk Iković he told "Vijesti" that the fire reduced the space that citizens use every day.
"Citizens will not walk through the forest that has been turned into char and ash, but will avoid it. Every time we lose even just one adult tree in a street or a park, the recognizable appearance of the street is lost, then the temperature rises faster, there is less shade and more traffic dust. All the young saplings that were supposed to form the forest complex during the next ten years were burned. All animals that did not have the opportunity to escape perished, such as forest turtles. The capital now needs to assess the ecosystem damage," said Iković.
He said that more fires like this would cause us to "have frequent temperature shocks in the city, and thus there is an increasing warming".
"Once a forest burns down, the probability of it burning again in the following years increases, because dead trees are susceptible to fire, and the area on Gorica will now have much drier soil and grass, because the burns have never been bigger. The number of insects that contribute to the balance of the forest is lower, which can cause forest diseases to spread faster," said Iković.
According to him, in order for Gorica to recover, it is necessary to respect the protocol.
"Gorica must be under the watchful eye of the fire service and nature conservationists throughout the year, especially in summer. Planned and systematic afforestation is needed, with original species that are typical for the climate of Podgorica: oak, ash, dogwood, etc. Today, Gorica is dominated by a pine forest, and the types of trees dictate both the speed of spread and the method of extinguishing the fire, which we saw best last night," said Iković.
Gajević: At first it seemed catastrophic
The director of the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas, Jasna Gajević, emphasized that very few new trees were killed, even though it looked "catastrophic" at first.
"We thought the whole of Gorica was on fire," she said.
She stated that yesterday in the morning it was burning again above Atinska Street, but also that the firefighters were defending part of the hill towards the top.
Gajević pointed out that the Agency will monitor the situation in the coming days and prevent the fire from breaking out again, but also that the authorities are "hoping for rain".
"We will see in the future. Obviously, a few more paths will have to be built, to try to recover and with some irrigation system... It's not up to us, but also up to the Capital City. A lot has to be done to make it all work," said Gajević.
She also appealed to the citizens to follow the regulations and to behave in accordance with the rules of protected areas.
"The biggest fault lies with unscrupulous citizens. If people behaved better, this would not have happened. This may not be intentional, but this in Atinska Street - we will see about that," she said.
Blečić: The fire element was fanned by the wind
Acting Commander of the Protection and Rescue Service of the Capital City Zdravko Blečić he told "Vijesti" that on the night of the fire, the intervention of the firefighters was "made extremely difficult by the north wind".
According to him, the fire spread too quickly and "in one moment overcame the forces of the local service".
"And in those moments, as a rule, additional forces from the local self-government are called. And that from the ranks of companies like 'Čistoća', and services from other municipalities are also called in order to suppress the fire in the shortest possible time", explained Blečić, adding that "with joint forces, they managed to localize the fire".
It recommends that citizens respect the Order on the prohibition of open burning and use of fire.
"The act that is in force from the first of July to the first of October. I also recommend them not to do any activities in this direction without the permission of the members of the Protection and Rescue Service", he said.
While the firefighters were fighting the elements in Gorica, at the same time, there was also a fire at the Old Airport. Blečić told "Vijesta" that he thinks the fire was set.
"... But that is not within our competence. I doubt that it was planted," concluded Bečić.
A fire was also set at the Stari aerodorm?
While the firefighters were fighting the elements in Gorica, at the same time, there was also a fire at the Old Airport. Blečić told "Vijesta" that he doubts that the fire was also arson.
"... But that is not within our competence. I doubt that it was planted," Blečić said.
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