VELEBIT BLAZE CONTAINED BY FIREFIGHTERS; BRUSKA FIRE BURNS 200HA

( Editorial: --> 3310 ) ZAGREB, 12 Aug (Hina) - Firefighters this afternoon have managed to contain a blaze that broke out last night in the area of Libinjska Kosa on Mt Velebit. The fire has already burnt 30ha of mostly grassland, the Croatian Government's Crisis Committee said in its latest report on the fire situation as at 3pm on Wednesday. The Committee said another fire has erupted in the Zadar County near Bruska, where about 200ha of low-lying scrub has been burnt. Located on the ground are professional firefighters from Benkovac and Zadar, as well as members of volunteer fire brigades and the Croatian Army. Sibenik-Knin County fire units are currently trying to put under control fires which have broken out in four locations - Miljevci, Pakovo Selo, Krivići and Oklaj. The fires have burnt grassland and low-lying scrub, and are being extinguished by the County's professional and volunteer fire brigades. The largest of these fires is between Oklaj and Marici where 200ha has been burnt. The efforts of firefighters are being hampered by the presence of mines. Just before noon a new blaze erupted at Plano just behind the central Adriatic town of Trogir towards Kastel-Labin. Winds are fanning the flames, which have burnt low-lying scrub and grassland. The fire on the southern Adriatic island of Korcula is still active between Zavlatica and Cara, and on Srednje brdo. There continue to be about 700 firefighters working in shifts and 30 or so fire vehicles involved in extinguishing efforts, as well as air support. Firefighters on neighbouring Lastovo island are clearing up burnt areas and still active fire scenes. There are about 300 firefighters and 10 fire vehicles involved in operations combating the blazes. The fires on St Elias hill overlooking Orebic (Peljesac peninsula), on Vepar hill near Bistrina on the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina and in the area of Snjeznica are under control. (Hina) mbr 121738 MET aug 98