Fire-fighting squadron winner of “Tourist Flower”

This award is an acknowledgement to all members of the squadron for the extraordinary efforts in fire-fighting operations during the summer months, thus contributing to security of property and Croatian citizens and tourists having their holidays in Croatia.

On behalf of the Fire-fighting squadron, the award was received by the Squadron commander Major Davor Turković (pilot), Lieutenant Vedran Vedrić (technician) and Captain Milan Došen (pilot) on Friday, 19 October 2012, in Dubrovnik on a ceremony within the “Croatian Tourism Days 2012”.

Fire-fighting squadron (PPE) is stationed in the 93^rd Air Force Base in Zemunik Barracks. It comprises of 6 Canadair CL 415, 2 Airtractor AT 802 F and 3 Airtractor AT 802 A Fireboss. PPE provides training of co-pilot, captain, test pilot, flight instructor and mechanic on planes Canadair CL 415, Airtractor AT 802 A, AF and AT 802 Fireboss for extinguishing fires on the mainland, coast and on the islands, as well as training of aircraft maintenance technicians for first and second level maintenance. During the fire-fighting season, from 15 May to 31 October, squadron is subordinated to the CAF Fire-fighting Task Force (CAF FF TF), which is organized every year to carry out the tasks of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces from the Programme of Activities of the Government in the implementation of special measures for fire protection of the interest of the Republic of Croatia.

In this year’s season, from 15 May to 1 October, Fire-fighting squadron took part in extinguishing 329 fire sites. This was the largest number of interventions in one fire-fighting season so far. Most fires were in Split-Dalmatia County, and fire-fighting squadron participated three times in fire-fighting in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During this period, more than 2400 flight hours of which 1600 hours in direct fire-fighting and fire reconnaissance was spent. About 1.125 million litres of fuel was spent and 56 500 tons of water dropped. Aircraft technicians spent over 4000 pre-flight, after-flight and in-between flight inspections, 54 periodic inspections carried out every 50, 100 and 200 hours, and nearly 500 corrective interventions on planes. In the last five years, PPE has participated in more than 1300 fire extinguishing dropping water that would cover about 18 000 football fields.