VIDEO: Huge wildfire breaks out between Omiš and Makarska – evacuations underway
- by croatiaweek
- in News
21 June 2025 – A major forest fire broke out early this morning in the area of Pisak, a coastal village situated between Omiš and Makarska on the Dalmatian coast.
The blaze is reported to have started in the forest above the Adriatic highway, which has since been closed to traffic in that section.
The fire has spread rapidly, fuelled by strong winds and dense pine woodland, and has moved dangerously close to residential areas in Pisak and Marušići and evacuations are underway as there are houses at risk.
Firefighters are on the ground attempting to contain the flames, but efforts are being hampered by difficult terrain and shifting winds.
“The fire is out of control. We are going house by house trying to save what we can. Everything is at risk. The entire county has been mobilised to assist,” said the commander of the Omiš Volunteer Fire Department in a statement to Croatian Radio.
Units from Omiš, Makarska, and Kaštela have been deployed. The state intervention unit has also been activated, and two Canadair aircraft have been sent to fight the fire. Firefighting teams are doing everything they can to save the homes, defending house by house.
Local residents are doing their best to protect their homes, while tourists in the area, visibly distressed, are leaving. Several witnesses have reported that cars may have been damaged in the blaze.
Pisak and the eastern part of Marušići below the main road are also without electricity.
There is growing concern among residents that the fire may have been deliberately set. “People have seen someone on a motorbike over the past few days, and there are suspicions that they are starting fires,” one local resident told reporters.
Despite the intensity of the situation, there have been no reports of injuries so far. Smoke from the fire has been seen as far away as the islands of Hvar and Brač.
Emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely as firefighting efforts remain underway. Videos below.
