CANADAIRS DEFENDED BLATO FROM A "CATASTROPHE" - MUNICIPAL CHIEF

( Editorial: --> 2584 ) BLATO, Aug 8 (Hina) - Fires on the southern Adriatic island of Korcula have been stopped from advancing onto the small town of Blato. "The Canadairs (fire-fighting aircraft) this afternoon defended Blato from a catastrophe," municipal head Branko Bacic said on Saturday, not long after 5pm when the fire was prevented from engulfing the town. He said flames had been as close as 300m to Blato. The strongest blaze was just 600m south-east of the town on the Petrov vrh hill. More than a thousand people are involved in the fire-fighting efforts, and this afternoon they were joined by professional firemen from Zagreb. It is estimated the blaze has burnt more than 1,100ha and the fire front which is 10km long needs to be looked after tonight so that it does not rage again, Bacic said. (Hina) mbr 081933 MET aug 98