Thunderstorms spark wildfires in Dalmatia as Croatia braces for major weather change

Wildfires broke out in several parts of Dalmatia on Tuesday after thunderstorms swept across the region, prompting a major firefighting response on the island of Čiovo and the Pelješac Peninsula.

The Croatian Fire Service (HVZ) said firefighters from the Trogir, Split, Kaštela and Solin operational areas, along with the Split Intervention Fire Brigade, were deployed to battle the blaze on Čiovo.

The Ministry of Defence said four Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft were initially dispatched to the island. As the situation worsened in southern Croatia, however, two aircraft were redirected to a wildfire near Orebić in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, while the remaining two continued operations on Čiovo.

The storms also sparked fires near Ston and Orebić on the Pelješac Peninsula.

Dubrovnik-Neretva County Fire Chief Stjepan Simović said the fire near Ston was burning in heavily wooded, difficult-to-access terrain but had been contained.

"Our crews climbed up and surrounded the fire. So far, it's not spreading," Simović said, adding that firefighters from Ston, Ponikve, Putniković and Žuljana were on the scene.

He said the blaze above Orebić initially spread rapidly, but the arrival of two Canadair aircraft redirected from Čiovo significantly improved the situation.

"They helped us a great deal by knocking down the flames on the hilltops while our crews climbed up. The situation is now much better. We hope to bring the fire under control tonight," Simović said.

Firefighters from Orebić, Kuna, Lovište, Viganj, Janjina, Trpanj, Slano, Putniković and Korčula were also deployed.

The fires came as Croatia remains in the grip of an intense heat wave. Split set a new all-time temperature record on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 39.4°C at noon — the highest since official records began. Record highs were also recorded in Zadar and Šibenik, while temperatures climbed to around 39°C across much of the country.

Forecasters say a major change in the weather is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing thunderstorms, cooler temperatures, possible flash flooding and hail. The severe storms that swept across parts of Dalmatia on Tuesday are expected to be a precursor to a broader weather system forecast to affect much of Croatia.