FIRES CONTINUE TO BURN ON ISLANDS OF KORCULA AND LASTOVO

( Editorial: --> 2595 ) ZAGREB, Aug 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Interior Ministry's (MUP) Fire Operations Centre says fires are still burning on the southern Adriatic islands of Korcula and Lastovo. In its latest report on the fire situation as at 6.30pm on Saturday, the Centre said the blaze on the northern side of the island of Korcula, located at Greben, was under control. But still active was the blaze near Blato, although its advance had been stopped just outside the small town. About 700 people are working in shifts to fight the blaze, with 30 or so fire vehicles also involved. Air assistance was received during the day from two Canadairs and a fire-fighting helicopter. The burnt area covers about 1,000ha of pine forest, grassland and dense underbrush. The MUP Centre report said efforts were still underway on Lastovo to fight a blaze which winds helped spread since this morning towards the town of Lastovo, but the fire's advance has been stopped. About 140 people are currently engaged in fire-fighting efforts with the help of 10 fire vehicles and three Canadair amphibious aircraft. The burnt area covers about 1,000ha of pine forest and dense underbrush. The Cavtat-Gabrila fire in far southern mainland Croatia is now under control and fire mopping up operations are underway. The burnt out area here is about 700ha and an Air Tractor reconnaissance-attack plane had doused water on the flanks of the fire this morning. The fire on the Peljesac peninsula is also under control and is not threatening occupied settlements. The burnt area covers about 1,200 hectares. Joining efforts on the land from 1pm was an Air Tractor plane, which was surveying and water bombing the fire fronts. The blaze close to the town of Mokosica, near Dubrovnik, is under control and the remaining fire areas are being cleared. The burnt area covers about 200ha. Fires broke out at about 3pm near the settlement of Plocica, in the Konavle region, following a lighting strike. Fire units have been sent to the area and this afternoon an Air Tractor plane was included in fire-fighting efforts. In all about 1,300 people are involved in efforts to contain all these fires still burning in parts of Croatia's southern Dubrovnik- Neretva County. Among those involved are professional and volunteer firefighters, members of specialist civil defence units, Croatian Army soldiers and local residents. Meanwhile, the Sibenik-Knin County has recorded several separate blazes near Siritovac on the Miljevac plateau. The Drnis fire brigade has been sent to the area and has managed to localise most of the fires. A great part of the fire engulfed area contains mines and efforts have been hampered as a result. A fire near Brodarice at the entrance to the central Adriatic city of Sibenik was reported to the Sibenik-Knin Police Department's Fire Operations Centre at about 4.55pm, but was already under control 20 minutes later. About 4ha of pine and oak forest and grassland has been burnt. A fire was also reported near the small inland town of Kistanje on the location Ivosevci-Rudele. This area is also mined and Croatian Army troops and Knin fire units have been sent to the scene. In Split-Dalmatia County, fires at waste dumps on the islands of Brac and Hvar have been put out. Back on the mainland, fire brigades from the Split-Dalmatia County Police Department have been sent to a fire near Kucica, close to the town of Omis. About 15ha was burnt, including dense underbrush and grassland. Several small fires were also recorded in various locations caused by the weather, but all were quickly extinguished. No fires were recorded in the Zadar County as at 6.30pm. (Hina) mbr 082145 MET aug 98