Canadair CL-415 of the Croatian Air Force extinguishes fires in North Macedonia

One Canadair CL-415, a specialized firefighting aircraft with two crews from the 855th Firefighting Squadron of the 93rd Wing of the Croatian Air Force, was dispatched to the Republic of North Macedonia to provide international humanitarian assistance in fire suppression. The arrival of the aircraft in Skopje was recorded on July 16, 2024, around 13:50 hours.

From the "Colonel Mirko Vukušić" Barracks in Croatia, a total of ten members of the Croatian Air Force were sent, including two crews and auxiliary aviation-technical personnel, under the leadership of Colonel Milan Došen and Colonel Željko Maljak.

Colonel Darko Kučej, commander of the 855th Firefighting Squadron of the 93rd Wing of the Croatian Air Force, confirmed that all preparations for the flight from the "Colonel Mirko Vukušić" Barracks in Zemunik Donji to Skopje were completed upon receipt of the notification and that the crews are ready to perform their tasks in the field.

According to reports from the field, the wildfire situation in North Macedonia in 2024 is extremely severe. Fires have engulfed large areas of forests and dry grasslands, threatening residential areas and endangering local fauna and flora. International assistance, such as the arrival of Croatian firefighting aircraft, is of great importance to local authorities dealing with the rapid spread of fire.

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia issued an official statement on the dispatch of Canadair CL-415 aircraft to the Republic of North Macedonia, following the order of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defense, Ivan Anušić, emphasizing the need for international solidarity and rapid response in such crisis situations.

According to the Fire Service of the Republic of North Macedonia, fires have so far affected more than 10,000 hectares of land. The most affected regions include the Galichica and Pelister National Parks, as well as mountainous areas around Lake Ohrid. Authorities have declared a state of emergency due to the rapid spread of fire and difficult firefighting conditions.

In an international context, assistance from Croatia represents an important step in regional cooperation and response to natural disasters. Croatia is recognized as one of the key partners in firefighting efforts in this part of Europe, further emphasizing the importance of joint action in protecting the environment and ensuring citizen safety.