FIRE-FIGHTERS STILL BATTLING BLAZES

( Editorial: --> 2778 ) ZAGREB, Aug 10 (Hina) - Due to a strong wind, fires in Zrnovnica (Split-Dalmatia County) have been reactivated during the night. A thick pine forest on difficult terrain is ablaze and some 20 hectares are on fire, the Croatian Interior Ministry Fire-fighting Centre reported Monday morning. Fire-fighting efforts are in progress and there are around 100 fire-fighters on the field. Thanks to the efforts of fire-fighters, the fire on the island of Korcula has been prevented from spreading during the night towards the towns of Brna and Smokvica, thanks partially to the wind which changed direction, blowing towards burnt ground. The blaze on the island of Lastovo has not spread during the night and the situation in stable, the Centre reported. Around 300 fire-fighters with 10 engines are still trying to put out the fire that caught about 1,070 hectares of underbrush and pine forest. Fire-fighting air forces have since early morning been continuing their efforts to put out fires on the islands of Korcula and Lastovo. Help has been sent in the shape of two tugboats of Split's 'Brodospas'. An air corridor was established early Monday morning to transport new fire-fighting troops to locations, the Centre said. (hina) lml 101017 MET aug 98