Milorad Spasojевić, head of the Directorate for Fire and Rescue Units within the Sector for Emergency Situations, reported today that from the beginning of the year until June 13, there have been a total of 10,800 interventions related to fires, resulting in 169 fatalities.

He urged citizens to exercise caution to prevent further tragedies.

Spasojевić emphasized the importance of not burning foliage and plants outdoors, advising regular checks of electrical installations and devices within homes to avoid fire hazards.

He noted that of the 10,800 interventions this year, nearly 3,000 were related to incidents in residential structures, while over 4,000 involved outdoor blazes.

In comparison, last year there were close to 12,000 interventions during the same period, marking a record annual total of nearly 40,000 interventions for fire units.

Despite the slightly reduced number of interventions compared to last year, Spasojевić stated that this figure remains significant and cannot be interpreted as a sign of improved compliance with preventive measures by citizens.

Continuous education and appeals are made to inform the public on preventing fires to safeguard lives and property.

In addition, 603 individuals were rescued from emergency situations in which the fire and rescue units intervened this year, compared to 674 rescues during the same timeframe last year.

Statistically, outdoor fires comprise the majority of incidents, attributed largely to human negligence, carelessness, and at times, intentional acts.

The onset of dry conditions early in the year contributed to a heightened number of outdoor fires, though recent rains have somewhat reduced their occurrence due to increased moisture in vegetation.

As summer approaches, the sector anticipates a potential rise in fire incidents depending on weather conditions.

Spasojевić highlighted that according to the Fire Protection Law, the burning of plant residues, stubble, crops, and waste in outdoor areas is prohibited, with fines for individuals ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 dinars.

He stressed that not all preventive measures should be punitive; initiatives include educational appeals to citizens to refrain from outdoor burning, especially during high temperatures and prolonged dry spells when fires can spread rapidly and lead to both loss of life and material damage.

Regarding fires in enclosed spaces, Spasojевić identified poorly executed electrical installations and overloads in existing systems as common causes, alongside malfunctioning devices.

He advised the public to regularly inspect their electrical systems and refrain from overloading them, as well as ensuring applicable maintenance of such installations.

As the use of air conditioning units increases, he underscored the importance of regular servicing of these appliances and the need to turn off all non-essential devices when leaving homes.

Currently, Serbia is home to 3,700 firefighters, with each firefighter carrying approximately 40 kilograms of equipment, deployed to the field within a minute of receiving a call.