Active wildfire season along Croatia's Adriatic coast

Timeline

1. August 27, 2026

   As of 27 August, two of the season's largest fires were declared fully extinguished or under control within a day of each other: the roughly 6,000-hectare Dinara wildfire was brought under control on the evening of 26 August, and the Omis/Lokva Rogoznica fire (started 13 August, ~1,000 hectares) was declared extinguished the same evening, with a final toll of one fatality and 43 people injured (including three firefighters) and roughly 2,500 residents evacuated during the incident. Near Dubrovnik, the Ivanica-area fire that had crossed into Zupa Dubrovacka has been extinguished, but a separate fire continues to burn on the Bosnian side of the border near Konavle; local fire commander Stjepan Simovic described it as a "very serious fire," with the Konavle area from Molunat to Cavtat waking to smoke most mornings and around 50 firefighters plus Canadair aircraft working the area daily. As of this report the fire has not crossed back into Croatian territory or threatened homes or tourist areas, though officials say substantial work remains before it is fully contained.

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2. August 26, 2026

   As of 26 August, the two wildfires along the Bosnia-Herzegovina border near Dubrovnik/Konavle remain in the same status reported on 24 August: occasionally crossing into Croatian territory in difficult, sparsely populated terrain but under control and monitored by Croatian firefighting units, with no threat to homes or tourist areas. No new wildfire outbreaks were reported anywhere along the Dalmatian coast (Split, Dubrovnik or the islands) in this period, and the region's earlier major fires (Omis/Lokva Rogoznica, Peljesac, Dugi Otok) remain contained.

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3. August 25, 2026

   A separate, smaller wildfire on the Pakleni Islands near Hvar (Sveti Klement islet), which began 24 August, was declared extinguished by 6:30pm on 25 August. This incident was unrelated to the Konavle/Dubrovnik border fires and had no impact on Split, Dubrovnik or other mainland Dalmatian destinations.

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4. August 24, 2026

   Two wildfires that crossed from Bosnia and Herzegovina into Croatia's Konavle area near Dubrovnik have been brought under control by Croatian firefighting units, though both remain under active monitoring. The Ivanica-area fire was contained after a rapid response by Dubrovnik units, and the Trebinje/Zubci-area blaze near Konavle, while still burning on the Bosnian side, remains distant from homes; an Air Tractor aircraft has been surveying the area with further aerial support possible. Difficult terrain continues to complicate firefighting.

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5. August 22, 2026

   A new wildfire crossed into Croatian territory from Bosnia and Herzegovina's Trebinje area overnight on 21-22 August, burning in the Konavle region south of Dubrovnik near Zupa Dubrovacka. The fire front measured roughly four kilometres on the Bosnian side; county fire commander Stjepan Simovic said favourable wind was holding the blaze in place. It remains far from homes and tourist areas, with aerial support deployed over inaccessible, roadless terrain. The Dubrovnik region has seen a record number of wildfire outbreaks this summer, with additional fires also flaring near Zadar (mid-August) and inland at Dinara, even as the earlier Omis blaze remains under control. Travelers to Dubrovnik and Zadar should expect intermittent smoke and check local advisories, though no new evacuations or accommodation closures have been reported.

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6. August 16, 2026

   The Omis wildfire has been confirmed as one of the most serious in Croatia's recent history, claiming one life, with four people seriously injured and several dozen others sustaining minor injuries. Over 1,000 hectares burned, and homes, olive groves and vehicles were destroyed or damaged. The fire was brought under control, with the situation calm by Saturday morning (16 August); evacuated tourists were able to return to their accommodation. The Red Cross continues to receive individual requests for assistance, including transport, information, replacement documents and help contacting relatives. Separately, the Peljesac Peninsula fire (started 14 August near Kuna Peljeska, ~500 hectares of pine forest) was stopped early on 16 August, and the Dugi Otok fire (started 14 August, ~300 hectares) was fully brought under control on 15 August after re-flaring once, with all homes and holiday properties successfully defended and no building damage reported.

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7. August 14, 2026

   A large wildfire broke out on Croatia's Peljesac Peninsula on 14 August near Kuna Peljeska, spreading toward Potomje and Putnikovici and burning roughly 500 hectares of pine forest. The road across the peninsula was closed and ferry services were expanded to maintain transport links; 250 firefighters with 73 vehicles from Dubrovnik-Neretva County, reinforced from two additional counties, battled the blaze with four Canadair aircraft, one Air Tractor and one helicopter. Separately, a fire broke out the same evening on the island of Dugi Otok near Brbinj and Savar; around 100 firefighters (including reinforcements brought by ferry) with two Air Tractors and one Canadair were deployed to protect homes and holiday properties in the area.

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8. August 14, 2026

   The Omis wildfire was described by Croatia's national fire chief, Slavko Tucakovic, as "one of the worst in Croatia's history." The fire reached Omis itself overnight, with around 2,000 people evacuated from nearby villages; the blaze damaged homes and destroyed cars in the early hours of 14 August. At least 10 people were in intensive care and dozens more were injured; Split hospital had admitted 40 people, including a German and a Polish tourist. Nearly 300 firefighters worked overnight and were at times outpaced by the blaze. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited the area, noting Omis is a town of 15,000 residents currently hosting around 12,000 tourists. After four Canadair aircraft were deployed at dawn, conditions eased and access reopened by mid-morning; firefighting aircraft were then redirected to the new fire on the Peljesac Peninsula.

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9. August 13, 2026

   A serious wildfire broke out in the evening near Lokva Rogoznica by Omis (area of Pape), Split-Dalmatia County. Strong bura winds drove the fire quickly toward residential areas; local reports describe flames reaching the edge of houses. Evacuations are underway, with displaced residents sheltered at the Ribnjak sports hall in Omis. The Adriatic Highway (Jadranska magistrala) was closed to all traffic between Stanici (from the Split direction) and Medici (from the Makarska direction). Firefighting units from Kastela to Makarska, along with police, civil protection and reinforcements from Zadar, are on scene; the fire was not yet confirmed contained as of this report.

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10. August 13, 2026

    A wildfire broke out overnight near Pucisca on the island of Brac and spread rapidly in strong winds. Dozens of firefighters and four Canadair aircraft were deployed, and crews managed to protect nearby homes. This is part of a season-long pattern of frequent grass, scrub and forest fires across the Dalmatian coast and islands, most contained within hours; no impact on ferry services or major tourist centers has been reported from this fire.

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11. August 10, 2026

    A wildfire on the island of Vrgada burned more than 17.5 hectares of pine forest at two locations after breaking out shortly after midnight. 56 firefighters were transported to the island by boat, supported by two Canadairs and four Air Tractors; the fire was brought under control with crews remaining overnight for monitoring. Separately, a fire near Marinici in the Rijeka area burned around four hectares before being extinguished on 9 August.

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12. August 7, 2026

    A wildfire near Raducic in Sibenik-Knin County burned around 35 hectares of grass, low vegetation and scrub before being localised the same day, with 28 firefighters, 11 vehicles and two Canadair CL-415 aircraft deployed. Nationwide, Croatian firefighters recorded 143 interventions in a single 24-hour period, involving 766 firefighters and 12 firefighting aircraft, illustrating the scale of this year's fire season.

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