NEW FIRES ERUPT IN SOUTHERN CROATIAN COUNTIES

( Editorial: --> 4224 ) ZAGREB, Aug 17 (Hina) - Firefighters have received air support to battle two blazes which broke out in separate parts of coastal Croatia on Monday afternoon. According to a report from the Croatian Interior Ministry's Fire Operations Centre on the fire situation as at 6.30pm Monday, a blaze erupted at about midday in the Sadina area, in the Kastel hinterland of the Split-Dalmatia County. Joining professional and volunteer firefighters and Croatian Army soldiers in extinguishing efforts is a Canadair fire fighting plane and two helicopters. About 30 hectares of land has been burnt, containing mostly mixed low-lying scrub. At about the same time a fire broke out on the Peljesac peninsula near the settlement of Dancane in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. The fire has already burnt about 120ha of land containing mostly shrubs. Included in efforts are professional and volunteer firefighters, Croatian Army soldiers and members of civil defence specialist units. Air support has been received from a Canadair, two helicopters and an Ilyushin specialist fire fighting aircraft. Firefighters have managed to contain a fire which broke out last Saturday afternoon in the Debelo Brdo area near Gracac in the Zadar County but remains active. The blaze has so far burnt about 100ha, comprising mostly grassland and low-lying scrub. Five smaller fires also broke out today in the Zadar area but according to latest reports they have either been contained or extinguished, apart from the fire near Skabrnja which is still burning in an area which has been mined. (Hina) mbr 172119 MET aug 98