The Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković  and the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister attended the presentation of the firefighter season 2018 delivered in the Operational Firefighting Centre at Divulje . The Command was also visited by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General  Mirko Šundov, special advisors to the Defence Minister Božo Kožul and Ivica Ušljebrka, the Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović,  the Director of the National Protection and Rescue Directorate Dragan Lozančić, the Chief Firefighter Commander Slavko Tucaković, the Commander of the General Staff Operations Centre Brigadier General Krešo Tuškan and the Commander of the military forces in the Operational Firefighter Command at Divulje Colonel Robert Suntešić. The Operational Firefighter Command at Divulje entered service on 1 June 2018, in compliance with the Programme of activities implementing special firefighting measures of interest for the Republic of Croatia in the year 2018. Prime Minister Plenković commended the operation of the Command and its efficiency. “Last year’s lessons have been acquired, thanks to the efforts invested and good co-operation with the local government.  We have made significant advancements and the weather conditions decreased fires. The decisive component is visibly upgraded integration and coordination of all  elements. We shall do our best to maintain the low incidence of fires over the weeks to come; my congratulations go to all on their commitment and courage in firefighting“, said the Prime Minister. 

”The Operational Firefighting Command has demonstrated the nation-wide readiness for firefighting; the preventive surveillance and the operation of the Command and of the overall homeland security system resulted in fewer fires.

“The season 2017 was the hardest  and the worst in modern history of Croatiaia, and we conducted a thorough analysis after which we made extensive analysis of system deficiencies. We  perceived the need for better co-ordination and closer partnership between the components of the national security system“. The Minister underlined the Operational Firefighting Command at Divulje as the decisive improvement compared to the season 2017, incorporating a situational centre and providing a real-time picture of the situation on the ground.

The Centre brings together firefighters, emergency medical services, the members of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, police and the armed forces, and for a first time a team operating the military UAV. The commanders and subordinated staff have been given the authority for urgent operation and decision making upon receiving a fire report. The time lapse between fire detection or report is now much shorter; the forces in the field no longer have to wait for the administrative procedures and approval from Zagreb“said the Minister and extended appreciation to the firemen, the Croatian Armed Forces, the police, the medical personnel and other participants of the homeland security system for their contribution.

The Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović agreed that the entire system in the season 2018  was more efficient.

“There were 75% fewer fires and the 98% less fire-affected areas compared to 2017. A key difference lies in the system preparing for the firefighter season throughout the year; it needs to become a regular practice, with guaranteed results“, said Minister Božinović.

The Chief Firefighting Commander Slavko Tucaković said that the establishment of the Operational Firefighting Command at Divulje significantly improved  communication and exchange of information. “It enabled us to make decisions at all levels faster and  to monitor fires by means of applications, facilitating faster and more efficient interventions. 

Brigadier General Krešo Tuškan said that in the season 2018 the Croatian Armed Forces provided assistance through stationary and mobile reconnaissance jointly with other components of the Operational Firefighting Command.