Šaranović: There are currently no active fires in Montenegro, rain extinguished the fire

After more than 50 days without almost any precipitation and an extremely dry period that has presented Montenegro with one of the most complex challenges in the field of protection and rescue, the rain that fell overnight in our country contributed to extinguishing all active fires, announced Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Šaranović.

He said that at this moment there are no active fires on the territory of Montenegro.

"The fires that were active in the areas of Nikšić, Šavnik, Plužine, Pljevlja, Kolašin, Danilovgrad, Podgorica and Cetinje in the previous days were extinguished thanks to the weeks-long, continuous and coordinated action of all entities in the protection and rescue system, and last night's rainfall was a valuable aid in finally extinguishing the fire," said Šaranović.

The minister said that the firefighting lasted for more than 50 days, in conditions of extreme drought, high temperatures, and very difficult terrain conditions.

"During that time, members of the protection and rescue services, the Directorate for Protection and Rescue and the Aviation - Helicopter Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Police Directorate, the Army of Montenegro, local services, voluntary fire brigades, as well as all other entities involved in responding to the fires, demonstrated a high level of responsibility, professionalism and readiness to protect people's lives, property and our natural resources," Šaranović said in a statement.

He said that the rainfall brought significant relief, but it did not mean the end of caution.

As he said, due to the possibility of reactivation of underground hotspots, field services and the 112 Operational and Communication Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day, and regular visits to locations where there were active fires will also be conducted.

"In the coming period, special attention will be paid to continuing continuous monitoring of the terrain using drones with thermal imaging cameras, in order to identify potential underground hotspots in a timely manner. If they are detected, measures will be taken to irrigate and remediate the terrain, with the aim of preventing their reactivation. We have shown that, when we act in a coordinated, responsible and timely manner, we can respond to even the most demanding challenges. Our obligation is to continue to be on the ground and ready to react, because the safety of citizens and the protection of natural resources remain an absolute priority," concluded Šaranović.