Firefighters battle major blaze on Dugi Otok overnight

(Screenshot/Vatrogasci-193)

ZADAR, 15 August 2026 – Firefighters have spent the night battling a major wildfire that broke out near Brbinj on Dugi Otok, with difficult terrain and dense vegetation hampering efforts to bring the blaze under control.

The fire, which started on Friday evening, spread rapidly above the village. Firefighters worked through the night to protect homes and holiday properties in the area, with all buildings successfully defended and no damage reported.

Around 100 firefighters are currently involved in the operation. Reinforcements from the mainland arrived overnight, with around 50 additional firefighters and 17 vehicles deployed to the island.

The fire has been divided into two fronts, approximately one kilometre and 600 metres long. Firefighters have described the area as particularly challenging because of the steep, inaccessible terrain and dense Mediterranean maquis vegetation, while homes are scattered around nearby bays.

Two Canadair firefighting aircraft were requested and arrived at the scene on Saturday morning to assist crews on the ground and help bring the fire under control.

Matej Rudić, commander of the Zadar County Fire Service, told RTL that firefighters had maintained an active defence of buildings throughout the night. He confirmed that the situation was improving but that the fire had not yet been fully brought under control.

The Dugi Otok blaze was one of several incidents in the Zadar area overnight and comes a night after the devastating blaze in Omiš.

Four fires broke out on the mainland, in Galovac, Zemunik and Mostar, but were brought under control within around two hours.

A smaller fire also broke out on the island of Iž at around 6am. Local volunteer firefighters responded quickly and brought that blaze under control.

Fire crews remain deployed on Dugi Otok as aerial operations continue.