The Head of the Operational and Communication Center 112 of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Zlatko Mićanović, said that a large number of fires are active in several municipalities, and that the most critical ones are in Budva and Bar - in Buljarica and Čanj.
There are also a large number of fires in Podgorica - in Kuči, Kakaricka gora, Piperi, Smokovac; as well as in Nikšić, while a fire is burning in Šavnik.
Mićanović said they expect the situation to stabilize.
"Currently, all protection services in those municipalities are on the ground, we expect these fires to be brought under control. A large number of aircraft are currently engaged to assist in extinguishing the fire from the air. The Air Tractor aircraft of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro is operational. There are also two Bell 412 military helicopters, which are extinguishing fires in Kuči and Kakaricka gora. Our aircraft is extinguishing fires in Nikšić. There is also, based on bilateral cooperation, a helicopter of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, which extinguished fires in Piperi and Smokovac and was transferred to another location in Danilovgrad, where it is currently extinguishing the fire," said Mićanović in a video provided to the media by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"Currently, a Canadair aircraft is operational in Montenegro, extinguishing fires, which we received for assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. An access point has been secured in the Buljarica area, from where the aircraft will purchase water and operate at the Buljarica and Čanj locations."
They expect those fires to be contained by the end of the day.
"Also, last night at around 20 pm, through NATO, we initiated a procedure for requesting assistance through the NATO mechanism. A large number of fire service members are on the ground, from many municipalities we have sent fire units with vehicles to help municipalities where it is critical - Budva, Bar, Podgorica... A large number of members of the Army of Montenegro are on the ground during the night and today during the day with their vehicles and a large number of personnel. Volunteer fire brigades are there, members of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue with a robotic system are also on the ground, so we expect the situation to stabilize," said Mićanović.
Bonus video:
