Croatian firefighters rescued 30 people from the ruins

Firefighters from almost all of Croatia, who help firefighters from the Sisak-Moslavina County, have been removing rubble for the fifth day in Petrinja, Glina, Sisak and surrounding settlements and have directly rescued more than 30 people, while three firefighters were injured.

More than 30 people were rescued and pulled out in the interventions to rescue people from the ruins, during which firefighters used search dogs.

Interventions included searching the area, removing dangerous parts of buildings, removing chimneys, covering roofs, cleaning roads, marking dangerous places, transporting and delivering supplies, water and other necessities, the Croatian Fire Association announced on Friday.

More than 800 firefighters, 220 fire trucks and 11 search dogs participated in the interventions in the entire area every day, reports Hina.

Chief fire commander Slavko Tucaković also pointed out that a large number of interventions were recorded in neighboring counties, especially in the area of ​​the City of Zagreb. He especially thanked the firefighters who are involved in the collection and delivery of aid and in helping the population through non-operational firefighting activities and asked the citizens for patience.

In the Croatian firefighting community, they point out that reports about damaged buildings are constantly arriving.

The fire brigades deploy the available forces according to priorities and according to the available forces on the ground, in cooperation with other services.

"We ask the citizens for their patience"

The problem arises because citizens call firefighters for interventions that are not primarily of a firefighting nature. The fire lines, 193, are congested, so there is a danger that information about the real danger will not reach the firefighters in time.

"We ask the citizens for their patience because we have a lot of calls. The removal of dangerous parts of the buildings is ongoing, and we must take all measures so as not to endanger the citizens or the firefighters on the ground. All received calls from citizens will be resolved," said the commander of the Headquarters for the Management of Fire Operations in the Areas of the city of Petrinja and its surroundings Dario Gauš, from the Rijeka Public Fire Department.

"The fact that the job is not easy at all and that the firefighters are in constant danger is evidenced by the fact that three firefighters were slightly injured. There was also a case where the firefighters found explosive devices in one building, which they also informed the police," said the Croatian firefighting communities.

They reminded that the local firefighters were immediately engaged after the first earthquake, and the direct rescue of citizens started after the big earthquake that hit the area on December 29, 2020.

According to the order of chief fire commander Slavko Tucaković, a total of 339 firefighters with 47 fire engines and 42 transport vehicles and 11 search dogs from a total of 11 firefighting communities of counties throughout Croatia were sent to help in Petrinje.

According to the City of Sisak, a total of 104 firefighters with 15 fire engines and 13 transport vehicles were dispatched to a total of five firefighting communities in counties throughout the country.

Also engaged was the State Fire Intervention Unit of the Croatian Fire Association - Divisions Šibenik, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, with a total of 32 firefighters and four fire engines and five transport vehicles.

During December 30, 2020, additional firefighting forces were dispatched and replacements for already activated firefighters from eight county firefighting communities with a total of 43 firefighters, 19 fire engines and two transport vehicles.