Large Pisak Fire Brought Under Control
A fire that broke out Saturday near the village of Pisak on the Makarska Riviera claimed between 300 and 500 hectares of vegetation. The fire quickly spread across neighboring localities of Marušići and Mimice, burning down grasslands, pine woods, and shrubs.

Population in Marušići was evacuated under the navy control. A Ministry of the Interior boat and a civilian vessel joined navy works to save some 25 residents. The response also involved five firefighting aircraft — four Canadair CL-415 planes, and one Air Tractor AT-802 — in addition to two Croatian Navy assault ships and two inflatable boats, the Defense Ministry said.

At Least One Fire Is Arson, Police Say
The Makarska Riviera has seen 17 fire locations affected in the last 48 hours, according to authorities. Speaking at a news conference, Siniša Mihanović, deputy head of Split-Dalmatia Police, said one of the fires was deliberately set and emphasized the need for a swift police investigation.

“It’s a priority for us,” Mihanović replied. “All the resources that we have are being used, even off-duty officers. We will not say any number of such culprits while the investigation is ongoing.”

One way that the fire has been started has been determined, but police are refusing to give details as it is still part of a criminal investigation. Residents have been advised to be vigilant and report suspicious activity.