The fire was literally going through the houses, people were running in front of it!

The night of fierce fighting for homes near Omiš was marked by desperate efforts to save property as firefighters ran out of water and locals used shovels to fight the flames. Residents described the scene as apocalyptic, with smoke and fire surrounding them, forcing them to rely on whatever means they had available. According to local reports, the situation escalated rapidly, leaving families trapped in their homes while trying to protect what little they could. Residents in the village of Čelina, located near Omiš, spent the entire night defending their houses against the blaze. A man who spoke to journalist Katarina Plantak of N1 recounted how the community fought back using nothing but shovels after the firefighters were left without water. He explained that their home’s water supply depended on electricity, which had gone off, cutting off access to water. “We had no choice but to use shovels,” he said, describing the chaotic conditions. “It was like being in hell, surrounded by smoke and fire. We used up all the water we had, and the firefighters were also left without water. Miraculously, we managed to save some of our homes.” He added that the night felt endless, with no chance to sleep or eat. The destruction was severe, particularly in the form of ruined buildings, with many homes reduced to rubble. “Most of the houses here burned down, and I don’t want to mention the deaths,” he said, expressing his horror. He admitted he hadn’t expected the fire to spread so quickly. “We saw the light coming closer, and within 45 minutes, it reached our village. We were pouring water on the houses, and that saved us. But the night was endless, no one could sleep, no one could eat.” Children were evacuated to Omiš while the men stayed behind to defend the homes. One resident said his mother remained behind, continuing to water the house despite the danger. “She didn’t fear anything, she kept watering the house. A neighbor’s car burned in the covered garage,” he recalled. Though he wasn’t afraid, he acknowledged the danger he faced. Meanwhile, the fire spread further, reaching the northern slopes of Omiš’s Dinara mountains. Strong winds made the situation even worse, complicating firefighting efforts. Firefighters and canadians worked tirelessly to prevent the flames from spreading to inhabited areas, especially as stronger storms were forecast. Reports indicated that smoke was rising above Imber, and the fire was approaching settlements such as Rogošići and Mimičići. Some residents in these areas had lost power, adding to the chaos. In the town of Omiš itself, the damage was extensive. Buildings, cafes, restaurants, boats, and cars were destroyed or severely damaged. The smell of burning wood filled the air, clinging to clothes and hair. One resident described the scene as devastating, with blackened trees still smoking and vehicles lying in ruins. “People ran away, leaving their cars on the road, fleeing toward the sea,” he said. “They carried their sick relatives and children, throwing them into the water. It’s impossible to describe, I can’t believe what happened and what could have happened,” he added, wiping tears from his eyes. One elderly man from Stanić, Ivo Kalajžić, told how he and his son-in-law fought to save their home. The forest around the house was completely burned, and the flames approached rapidly. He described how he dressed and began pouring water over the house, though the pressure was weak. “The fire came faster than I could imagine,” he said. “At one point, the heat became unbearable. I had to run inside the house. The wind turned towards me.” After the situation briefly calmed, he returned to continue fighting the fire. Despite the devastation, Kalajžić expressed relief that no one in his family was harmed. However, he noted that much was lost, including the car and boat. His wife barely escaped, but her journey to safety was interrupted. She returned driving in reverse, having been unable to move forward due to the intense heat. “Inside the car, it was like hell,” he said. “Everything touched by the fire would burn. The tires were almost set alight. If they had caught fire, everything would have gone up in flames.” His daughter and grandchildren also endured a harrowing experience. They tried to reach Omiš but couldn’t, so they descended toward Stanić. In desperation, the woman jumped into the sea with her children, waiting for a boat. She left the car unlocked and fled. Kalajžić, now 70 years old, called this the worst fire he has ever experienced. He claimed that the fire was deliberately set, noting that it started at dusk when drones were not active and during heavy rain. “It was not a coincidence that it began in the dark, when canadians couldn’t fly, and during a strong storm,” he said. He criticized the lack of control over unchecked growth of forests and birches, which become fuel for disasters under such conditions. “This is a terrible thing. No one yet has founded an organization called ‘Let’s Fight Against Birches in Croatia.’ It should be done.”