Wildfires in

PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO, 22-23. FEBRUARY 2018. MINISTRY OF INTERIOR SECTOR FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Organizational scheme of rescue and protection system in the Republic of Serbia

ANTALYA/TURKEY, 25-27. OKTOBER 2017. Department for Fire and Rescue Units

 Coordinates the work of fire and rescue units for the whole territory of the Republic of Serbia;

 Fire and rescue unit deal with first response, elimination of consequences and relief in the event of disaster or emergency;

 Fire and rescue units work closely with other departments within the Ministry if there is a need for coordinated response in the event of a major disaster - Helicopter Unit, Gendarmerie, divers etc.

PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO, 22-23. FEBRUARY 2017. Open space fires in Serbia

Time line Total number of fires in Wildfires open space I - IX 2016. 7.367 185 I - IX 2017. 18.717 739

Total burnt area in open space fires: 9095 ha

• low growth, dry grass and decennial forest - , National park „Đerdap“ - 165 ha • low forest vegetation – 1.000 ha of, – 1.600, Dimitrovgrad – 500, Žitorađa, and Žagubica – 300 each, Kuršumlija – 200, Kladovo – 1.930, - 1.000), Bor – 620, - 510, babušnica/Bela Palanka – 800, - 100) – 200), – 360, Prokuplje – 240, Gadžin Han/ – 390, - 80 Significant open space fires Januar/September 2017.

СУБОТИЦА

КИКИНДА СОМБОР A large number of firefighters

ЗРЕЊАНИН were engaged in the Deliblatska peščara: 1 fire, 100 ha НОВИ САД extinguishing of the open Negotin: СРЕМСКА ПАНЧЕВО 7 fires, 1.550 ha in total МИТРОВИЦА БЕОГРАД Bor: space fire. 6 fires, 400 ha in total ШАБАЦ Kladovo: Grocka: 1 fire, 1.000СМЕДЕРЕВО ha 4 fires, 2.100 ha in total ПОЖАРЕВАЦ

БОР Mionica: 1 fire, - 100 ha As well, helicopters of the Rtanj: 2 fires, 360 ha in total

ВАЉЕВО Ministry of Internal Affairs КРАГУЈЕВАЦ Žagubica/Kučevo: 1 fire, 300 ha ЧАЧАК ЈАГОДИНА Pirot: took part when they were 4 fires, 1.160 ha in total КРАЉЕВО ЗАЈЕЧАР Dimitrovgrad: needed. 1 fire, 500 ha Kraljevo: 1 fire, 80 ha УЖИЦЕ Babušnica:

КРУШЕВАЦ 1 fire, 130 ha ПРОКУПЉЕ НИШ Babušnica/Bela Palanka: НОВИ ПАЗАР 1 fire, 550 ha ПРИЈЕПОЉЕ Novi Pazar: 1 fire, 200 ha Bela Palanka/Niška Banja: Svrljig: 1 fire, 120 ha 3 fires, 460 ha

Žitorađa: Gadžin Han: 1 fire, 300 ha 1 fire, 300 ha ПИРОТ Prokupljе: 2 fires, 540 ha ЛЕСКОВАЦ

Babička gora: 1 fire, 90 ha

ВРАЊЕ

Significant forest fires in previous period The most significant forest fire in last decade Serbia

Тара 23.08.2012 - 13.09.2012

Ангажовано ватрогасаца-спасилаца 621 Ангажовано возила 58

Tara, august/september 2012 The most significant forest fires in last decade Serbia

 Burnt area 240 000 acres  Duration of the fire 23rd of august to 13th of september  Engaged firefighters 621  Engaged vehicles 58  MoI helicopters  MCS helicopters and airplanes  Serbian Army  Gendarmerie  Serbia Forest public company, legal entities and citizens…

Tara august/september 2012 Significant forest fires in previous period

Cigota, Zlatibor 2012

Engaged firefighters 157 Engaged fire vehicles 39 Significant forest fires in previous period

Gornja Gorevnica (Cacak) 2012

- 171 firefighters with 29 fire vehicles - 265 Members of Gendarmerie - 200 Members of Serbian Army - MoI helicopters and MCS airplanes Significant forest fires in 2017

Bor, Kladovo - summer 2017

During August 2017 Russian MI-8 helicopter with 5 crew members of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, was preventively stationed at the airport in Nis Significant forest fires in 2017 Bor, Kladovo - summer 2017 Significant forest fires in 2017

Mionica () – august 2017

- 30 firefighters with 12 fire vehicles Significant forest fires in 2017

Gadzin Han – september 2017

- 60 firefighters with10 fire vehicles Factors which affects occurrence and development of wildfires

- Human factor (negligence, intention ...) - Global climate change - Lack of preventive measures - Lack of early warning systems - Late fire alert - Problems with communications - Distance and lack of equipment in Fire & Rescue units - Coordination during interventions - Fire watch on already contained fires Significant forest fires in previous period Significant forest fires in previous period

Example of efficient system for early detection of wildfires Deliblato sands – august 2017

- wildfire was detected on time and it was extinguished in early stage with minimal human and material assets Preventive measures Preventive measures

- Maintenance and widening of forest roads and trails - Creation and maintenance of fire breaks - Creation of alternative water sources - Increased attendance and fire watches during the fire season - Installation of video surveillance - Increased number of watchtowers - Installation of warning panels - Marking of locations where open flame can be used - Education of general population (media warnings, visits, leaflets...) Early warning system

Advantages of early warning system

- Detection of fires in early stages - More precise and easier locating of fires - Fewer resources needed for extinguishing actions - Better coordination during extinguishing actions Creating and updating of operational maps Wildfires firefighting with aerial means

- Helicopter unit of MoI - Helicopters of Serbian Army - Helicopters and airplanes from MCS Russian Federation Department for Fire & Rescue Units Sector for Emergency Management Ministry of Interior of Republic of Serbia