Komarča – North-west of DOCUMENTATION OF PAST FIRES Fire perimeter and ignition point on the fire fighting operative map Insert a large scale image of the area, aiding its easy localization. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia)

Reference for both “fire location” images (left and first one below): Statistical office of the Republic of Slovenia: NUTS 3 Surveying and mapping authority of the Republic of Slovenia: State general map 1:250.000 Ministry of agriculture, forestry and food: map of land use Slovenia Forest Service: map of fire events

Ignition point

Fire perimeter

Identification N°: fire record is not in the EFFIS database as one, but as few fire events Date: 06.08.2003 Area (ha): 20,0 ha Cause: natural-lightning Type of fire: ground fire Start fire time: 06.08.2003 at 22:00 Final propagation time: 24.08.2003 Ignition point Coordinates (WGS84), aspect, altitude, remarks on morphology:  cause of fire: lightning  position: north 46.295°, east 13.797°  slope: 60%  aspect: 167° (S)  altitude: 1440 m a.s.l. Location and Comments: Provide a brief description of the area (regional scale) where the event occurred and general information on local forests and vegetation types.

Forest types involved are different from ignition point conditions? Describe important details and specificities of the fire.

The fire occurred in the municipality of about 3 km west of on steep slopes of Komarča. The municipality is situated in a glacial valley and covers an area of 333.7 km2. According to SI-STAT 2004, the municipality had 5277 residents who live in 24 settlements. The largest settlement of the latter is , which is also an administrative centre of the municipality. Bohinj is known for a typical alpine landscape and a rich cultural heritage. This is evidenced also by the fact that 66% of municipal territory (221 km2) is situated within the territory of the National Park and 84% of the municipality is protected General Topography in Natura 2000.

Bohinj area has a typical mountain climate, since the average air temperature of the coldest month throughout is below -3 °C. Due to its hilly surroundings the area is one of the wettest parts of Slovenia. Precipitation regime is sub-Mediterranean, with a primary and secondary peak rainfall in autumn and in the end of spring/beginning of summer, respectively. The primary minimum of the rainfall is in winter, while the secondary is in summer. Average annual air temperature (period 1961-1990) in Stara Fužina was 7.6 °C and average precipitation was 2333 mm. Summer storms, frequent fog and temperature inversions are the characteristics of the Bohinj basin.

The prevailing soil types on more or less steep terrain are rendzinas on dolomite and limestone with a mix of brown calcareous earths. On steeper slopes, the upper lands and the reefs skeletal soils (Lithosols after FAO classification) are more frequent. Bottom of the valley, slopes and the plateaus are covered by beech and spruce forest with significant larch, followed by dwarf pine at timberline. Typical vegetation on shallow lithosols consists of alpine willows and other species such as Carex firma and Thlaspi rotundifolium.

Municipality of Bohinj has one main voluntary fire-fighting squad, VFFA Bohinjska Bistrica, which operates as a mandatory local public service. It has the status of the central fire department in the municipality and belongs to the category III. However, there are ten other voluntary fire-fighting squads and one industrial voluntary fire-fighting squad in the municipality.

Zoom (View of the ground fire from the helicopter) Typical landscape (Komarča cliff face)

METEOROLOGICAL SCENARIO Description of the synoptic episode by means of synoptic maps, for example the ones available on: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/

Relevant fire weather information (main winds, wind changes, drought, dry storms, etc.)

Year 2003 in Slovenia was meteorologically very similar as throughout the Europe, extremely warm and dry. That exhibited in high frequency of fires in wild lands. In the winter-summer period, in March, there was 625 fires in Slovenia (67 ha of burnt area), in April 334 fires (30 ha). In the summer time, there were 229 fire events (1522 ha) and 345 fires in August (205 ha). The year 2003 was a record-setting one, with the sum of 6065 fires. Lots of those events occurred in natural environment, and quite some required the use of helicopter assistance. Altogether, fire started 2820 times. More than 3000 ha of area was burnt. In the following year of 2004, only 777 fires occurred in natural environment.

Year 2003 had a significant characteristic, which was a long-lasting drought. Dry period started as early as in March. The latter was the driest March in the last 50 years. Low level of precipitation continued in April and May. Drought gradually ended no earlier as in September. Too warm weather was also prevailing in the period from March till September. Above average temperatures occurred May, July and August. June was in that respect perhaps even the most extreme month so far.

Danger level (derived from the fire weather index value)

Danger level at the time of fire was “5-very high” (1-5 scale), based on M-68 index.

Synoptic maps Fire danger map Temperature (°C) Fire danger map could not be recovered for an event that is so remote in time.

The value of fire danger index also could not be obtained, but could be derived from the historical station data.

Air pressure (hPa)

Weather parameters and weather indices hourly graphs: 1. Air temperature and relative humidity Temperature (° C) 2. Wind speed and direction 3. Fire weather indices Relative humidity

Wind speed (km/h)

Wind direction

Fire activity period

Daily weather data for the Bohinjska Češnjica meteorological station (lon=13.9, lat=46.3, alt=595m) – from 06.07. to 06.08.2003

Month Avg. Max. Cum. Durat. Avg. Days with temp. temp. precip. of solar cloud. thunderst. (°C) (°C) (mm) rad. (h) (%) 6.7.2003 16.1 24.1 19.7 6.6 50 no 7.7.2003 17.9 25.6 0.1 9.0 80 yes 8.7.2003 17.4 26.4 0.6 6.6 60 no 9.7.2003 16.8 26 0 7.8 70 no 10.7.2003 17.1 23.8 8.8 3.4 87 no 11.7.2003 18.2 25.5 0.8 6.2 60 no 12.7.2003 18.9 27.4 0 6.3 53 no 13.7.2003 18.1 26.2 0 5.3 97 no 14.7.2003 18.6 25.6 0.6 8.8 57 no 15.7.2003 19.9 27.4 0 12.9 40 no 16.7.2003 21.5 29.2 0.2 10.8 80 no 17.7.2003 20.9 31.3 0 9.9 53 no 18.7.2003 18.3 26.5 32.9 10.0 33 no 19.7.2003 19.3 29 0 13.3 3 no 20.7.2003 20.6 30.4 0 11.9 3 no 21.7.2003 22.2 31.3 0 10.9 17 yes 22.7.2003 21 31.7 3.8 10.1 40 no 23.7.2003 17.3 25.4 5.9 6.3 40 yes 24.7.2003 17.8 24 13 2.7 100 no 25.7.2003 19 27.9 3.5 9.8 17 no 26.7.2003 20.5 30.2 0 11.9 37 no 27.7.2003 21.3 31 0 13.2 0 no 28.7.2003 19.9 31.1 0 7.6 90 no 29.7.2003 17.7 23.9 12.7 5.6 80 no 30.7.2003 17.7 26.3 0 9.8 23 no 31.7.2003 16.3 17.9 0 0.8 100 no 1.8.2003 19 26.5 0.2 6.0 63 no 2.8.2003 21.2 30.5 0.3 12.8 17 no 3.8.2003 22.4 31.7 0 12.6 7 no 4.8.2003 24.3 34.1 0 11.7 20 no 5.8.2003 22.3 33.7 0 8.0 37 no 6.8.2003 18.8 32.5 0 5.9 60 yes Average 19.3 27.9 49.2 Total 103.1 274.5 4

Remarks: Bohinjska Češnjica; Vogel – climatological station (available data is measured by observers at 07., 14. and 21. hours (CET): temperature, humidity, cloudiness, wind velocity, atmospheric pressure; at 07. (CET): precipitation, thickness of snow cover and of newly fallen (fresh) snow; during all day: observation of 45 different atmospheric phenomena)

Daily weather data for the Vogel meteorological station (lon=13.8, lat=46.3, alt=1535m) – from 06.07. to 06.08.2003

Month Avg. Max. Cum. *Durat. Avg. Days with temp. temp. precip. of solar cloud. thunderst. (°C) (°C) (mm) rad. (h) (%) 6.7.2003 11.9 17 1.9 / 37 no 7.7.2003 13.4 17 0 / 67 yes 8.7.2003 13.7 17.4 4.2 / 53 no 9.7.2003 13.2 17.5 0 / 57 no 10.7.2003 14 16.5 11.5 / 47 no 11.7.2003 14.6 17.6 0.6 / 53 no 12.7.2003 16.2 19 0 / 33 no 13.7.2003 12.7 19 0 / 87 no 14.7.2003 12.1 16.5 3.7 / 73 no 15.7.2003 14.9 18 0 / 30 no 16.7.2003 16.2 19 0.4 / 40 no 17.7.2003 15.9 23 0 / 47 yes 18.7.2003 15.4 19.5 37.7 / 20 no 19.7.2003 15.3 21.2 0 / 3 no 20.7.2003 17.5 21.8 0 / 3 no 21.7.2003 18.6 21.5 0 / 43 yes 22.7.2003 19.3 22.2 6.5 / 30 no 23.7.2003 13.7 20 0 / 63 yes 24.7.2003 15 19.5 12.8 / 63 no 25.7.2003 14.7 19.9 6.5 / 30 no 26.7.2003 16.3 21.5 0 / 17 no 27.7.2003 19 22 0 / 10 no 28.7.2003 17.4 22.5 0 / 80 no 29.7.2003 12.4 16.5 6.5 / 63 no 30.7.2003 14 19 0 / 27 no 31.7.2003 12.2 16 0 / 93 no 1.8.2003 14.1 17.8 3.6 / 70 no 2.8.2003 17.2 22 0.2 / 23 no 3.8.2003 18.5 23.8 0 / 13 no 4.8.2003 20.8 26 0 / 10 no 5.8.2003 20.9 26.5 0 / 53 no 6.8.2003 18.5 25.1 0 / 47 yes Average 15.6 20.1 43.3 Total 96.1 5 *data not available

Yearly weather data for the Bohinjska Češnjica meteorological station – 2003 Month Avg. Avg. Cum. Durat. Avg. Days D. with temp. max. t. precip. of solar cloud. with rain (°C) (°C) (mm) rad. (h) (%) thunders. (>1mm) Jan. -2.5 2.4 89.7 65.3 79 0 13 Feb. -3.1 4.2 23.4 131.2 50 0 2 Mar. 4.8 13.5 1.3 179.5 55 1 2 Apr. 6.7 13.2 138.1 162.6 70 0 15 May 14.3 23 82.6 227.9 52 6 9 Jun. 19.5 27.9 146.8 224.9 64 13 17 Jul. 18.4 26.4 184.2 238.6 58 5 17 Aug. 20.4 30 97.1 250.3 56 9 15 Sep. 12.1 21 122.2 194.7 47 1 11 Oct. 6.3 12.5 192.6 114 70 4 12 Nov. 5.5 10 275.6 49.3 85 0 18 Dec. -0.7 4 198.8 69.8 58 0 12 Year 8.5 15.7 1552.4 1908.1 62 39 143

Yearly weather data for the Vogel meteorological station – 2003 Month Avg. Avg. Cum. *Durat. Avg. Days D. with temp. max. t. precip. of solar cloud. with rain (°C) (°C) (mm) rad. (h) (%) thunders. (>1mm) Jan. -3.9 -0.6 99.1 / 51 0 11 Feb. -6.8 -3 17.2 / 39 0 4 Mar. 1.2 6.5 0.3 / 42 0 1 Apr. 1.5 4.8 219.1 / 69 0 15 May 10.4 14.8 110.7 / 50 5 10 Jun. 15.5 19.6 151 / 54 9 18 Jul. 14.3 18.4 194.8 / 51 6 15 Aug. 17.1 21.6 122.2 / 46 4 14 Sep. 8.8 13.1 138.9 / 40 1 9 Oct. 2 5.2 389.4 / 65 0 14 Nov. 2.4 5.3 509.2 / 69 0 15 Dec. -1.2 2.4 160.3 / 53 0 9 Year 5.1 9 2112.2 / 52 25 135 *data not available

FIRE BEHAVIOUR AND OPERATIONS Main fire propagation direction by intensity Main manoeuvres

At 22:00 on the 6th of August, a fire was caused by lightning in an inaccessible terrain below the peak of Mala Savica at 1440 m a.s.l.

At 8:42 on the 7th of August, the fire was observed and VFFA Bohinjska Bistrica and other volunteers were activated. The fire proceeded from estimated 200 m2 on-site of lightning to 4000 m2 of area during the day. Because fire extended to the edge of a cliff, burning trees, which fell down the cliff, caused other new fires in the area covered by beech forest (Anemone-Fagetum) and on steeper slopes by forest of hop-hornbeam and manna ash (Ostryo-Ornetum). The fire-fighting squad was aided by military and police helicopters, which transported volunteers and equipment close to on-site of the fire. Firefighters started to dig the ground before the fire forehead, while foresters cut trees in order to make firebreak, the barrier that would stop the progress of the fire. Firebreak was poured by water from the lakes taken by helicopters. During the day helicopter took water from two of Triglav lakes and made 60 flights.

From the 8th till 10th of August, fire was strengthened by a strong buoyant wind that pushed the fire uphill. In the cliff, fire become partly a crown fire, which extended over the groups of trees. Intervention was difficult due to fallen rocks and burning trees. Meanwhile, there was a crisis meeting of VFFA, Regional office of civil protection, Police, Municipality Bohinj, Triglav National Park, Slovenia forest service and Mountain rescue service, who have agreed upon coordinated cooperation. Due to rockfall in the vicinity of the mountain trails to Komarča, the leader of intervention Julij Kuhar decided to close all trails in endangered area including Komarča, Savica Waterfall and Mala Savica.

On the 11th of August, the firebreak was finished. Unfortunately, the buoyant Short description of main manoeuvres in wind became stronger, and moreover, it was getting problematic due to the relation to fire bahaviour main phases. additional wind blowing from the southwest. Fire progressed further up the slope. Firefighters succeeded to keep the fire in back of firebreak with a minor help of rain (1.9 mm in the last 24 hours).

On the 12th of August, firefighters set up pumps in the lake Črno jezero from which about 800 m of fire hoses was dragged in two directions; the first tract up to 140 m higher sites called Orliči and Jagrova skala, where firebreak was irrigated intensively and the second along the mountain trail to peak of Komarča to control fire not to cross another firebreak. Pumps were also installed at Savica Waterfall at lower elevation due to a serious danger that fire would jump in the lower part of Pršivec wall.

From the 13th to 17th of August, fire fighting continued in already described way to ensure area secured against reignition. On the 15th and 16th of August rainfall of 18.5 mm substantially helped firefighters to alleviate the heat in the ground.

From 18th to 24th of August, fire watch was organised by firefighters of different contributing VFFAs.

Several fire-fighting VFFAs (more than 300 firefighters) contributed to the intervention including Bohinjska Bistrica, , Koprivnik, Gorjuše, , Bizovik pri Ljubljani, Zasip pri Bledu, Ribno, Gorje, Bled, Podhom, Bohinjska Češnjica, Stara Fužina, . Other following organization and volunteers participated: Slovenian military and Police, local foresters and loggers from Slovenia forest service and Gozdno gospodarstvo Bled, Civil protection service, Municipality Bohinj, Mountain rescue service Bohinj, hunters from Bohinjska Bistrica in Stara Fužina.

A considerable work has been done by helicopters, two of Slovenian military and one of Police. The latter helped with transferring people and equipment close to on-site the fire, while other two poured the soil with water taken from lakes. In total, helicopters made 396 flights in 140 hours in which 572 persons and almost 6 tons of equipment were transferred. About 600.000 litres of water was poured on the burning area of Komarča by helicopter and about 1 million litres of water was pumped and poured with fire hoses from the lake Črno jezero.

Fire and post-fire images

Surface fire in the beech forest promoted by strong wind. Fire watch at firebreak.

Ground fire on the slope. Ground fire on the slope.

Firebreak on the edge of Komarča cliff face. Burnt area at Komarča.

Burnt area in the beech forest. Burnt area in the beech forest.

Notice of closure of the mountain trails due to fire. Equipment disposal at the lake Črno jezero.

Military helicopter transfer of the firefighters. Police helicopter transfer of the firefighters.

ECOLOGY AND ECONOMY OF THE EVENT PRE-EVENT MANAGEMENT IMPACTS AND ECONOMIC DAMAGES

For example: - Which of the wood and ecosystem services have been - forest and surrounding vegetation conditions; type compromised? of forestry management: Forest protection role against stream flow, erosion, avalanches Protection forests and other natural hazards.

- public/private property - Which are the human consequences (casualties, etc.)?

- Operative prevention protocols There were no casualties or injured during the fire.

- Is it possible to evaluate the economic losses? - Risk awareness Economic losses cannot be evaluated, however the fire affected Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for civil tourism, forestry and wildlife, but more important than this protection and disaster relief made a press release on the 8th ecological losses occurred such as alteration of hydrological of the August about the increased fire hazards not only for processes, erosion and increase risk for avalanches and the but all country. landslides. The costs of helicopter intervention: 200300 EUR

- Why the event is considered to be “extreme”? (if it is considered “extreme”)

This intervention was difficult due to steep slope and fallen rocks and burning trees during the fire fighting. POST-EVENT ADOPTED STRATEGIES LESSON LEARNT

- Post-event (or planned) forest management (did Text: (Please report also any specific description element the event affected the management policy? Or will (meteorological, morphological, ecological, etc.), useful to it?) understand the issue)

The protection role of the area was decreased and The goal of the fire-fighting squads was to stop the fire restoration of the burnt area was done soon afterwards. proceeding across the edge of Komarča cliff face. Fire fighting from the bottom of the cliff was too dangerous, particularly due - Economical management of the post-event to rockfall and strong wind blowing up the slope. situation

Data not available.

- Secondary events occurred or monitored

DRAFT – Chart of the impacts and the stakeholders towards the eco-systemic services

IMPACTS FUNCTION STAKEHOLDERS

Yes/No List Description Protection Description (Evaluation) (Consequences)

Yes/No List Description Naturalistic Description (Evaluation) (Consequences)

Yes/No List Description Description Landscape (Evaluation) (Consequences)

Yes/No List Description Recreational Description (Evaluation) (Consequences)

Yes/No List Description Description Productive (Evaluation) (Consequences)