The Army, Navy, and Croatian Air Force Are Prepared for Another Successful Firefighting Season

Today, 18 June 2025, Brigadier General Željko Ljubas, Commander of the CAF General Staff’s Command-Operational Centre, attended the Coordination of the Homeland Security System meeting and the press conference on the 2025 wildfire season, which started on 16 June 2025, in the evening on the premises of the State Fire Intervention Unit Split in Divulje.

President of the Coordination of the Homeland Security System, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Croatian Veterans, Tomo Medved, said that at the session, all representatives of the segments of the homeland security system presented information on preparations for this year’s wildfire season, and he particularly emphasized the role of firefighters and continuous investments in the firefighting system.

“I want to express my gratitude to the Chief Fire Commander, his colleagues, and every fireman for their contribution to a cutting-edge and effective firefighting system. We can conclude from all of the information provided here that tourists are visiting a secure nation,” Minister Medved stated.

Brigadier General Ljubas highlighted that the air, land, and marine elements of the specialised emergency response Fire and Rescue Teams (PP NOS OS RH) are prepared for another firefighting season as he presented the Croatian Armed Forces’ participation in the 2025 firefighting season.

Throughout the firefighting season, firefighters will be assisted from the air by up to five Canadair CL-415s and up to six Air Tractor AT-802s

According to BG Ljubas, “up to five Canadair CL-415s, up to six Air Tractors AT-802s, one Mi-171 Sh helicopter, one Pilatus PC-9 aircraft for reconnaissance and other tasks, and the Orbiter 3 unmanned system will assist firefighters from the air throughout the firefighting effort.” The Croatian Navy is also taking part in PP 2025 alongside the Air Force, bringing two inflatable boats, one minesweeper landing craft for moving people and equipment, and one landing craft for moving people.

Additionally, he stated that two CAF platoons are waiting at the 4th Guards Brigade Pauci Barracks in Knin, prepared to deploy within an hour to put out fires in open areas at the Chief Fire Commander’s request and as needed. At the Knez Trpimir Barracks in Divulje, a firefighting battalion of soldiers who have been trained and equipped for fighting fires is also on standby.

“All of the above-mentioned CAF services also have reinforcement forces at various levels of readiness that can be deployed according to the operational situation and requirements,” BG Ljubas said.

From June to October 2025, the Air Force will have two Canadair CL-415 aircraft on standby to support other countries as part of the rescEU mechanism.

The Croatian Armed Forces are always present and prepared to assist its citizens when required

BG Ljubas ultimately concluded that CAF members are always present and ready to help when needed, so the people of Croatia and the tourists who will be spending a lot of time on the Adriatic this summer need not worry.

As a result, the specialised emergency response Fire and Rescue Teams’ (PP NOS OS RH) members helped put out 11 fires between the beginning of 2025 and 19:00 on 16 June, which is when the second phase of the firefighting season began.

The CAF’s participation in firefighting is defined and coordinated in accordance with the Program of Activities for the Implementation of Special Fire Protection Measures of Interest to the Republic of Croatia in 2025, adopted by the Croatian Government.

The Croatian Operational Firefighting Command coordinates the daily activities of all forces in collaboration with the Croatian Fire Fighting Association, county fire commanders, the CAF’s Command and Operations Centre of the General Staff, the Ministry of the Interior, the Civil Protection Directorate, and other stakeholders involved in the country’s implementation of special fire protection measures. The Operational Firefighting Command’s military component keeps an eye on the situation at fire sites and plans and organises the employment of designated CAF forces to put out flames and restore fire sites.

Representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, the Firefighting Association of Istria and Šibenik-Knin counties, and Chief Firefighting Commander Slavko Tucaković attended the press conference in Divulje alongside Minister Medved and General Ljubas. They also affirmed the excellent cooperation of all homeland security system components involved in the firefighting season.