Landscape Fires

The organized fire protection system in Serbia traces its origins back to the reign of Prince Miloš Obrenović in 1834 when the “Decree against Fire” was enacted. This marked the official beginning of efforts to safeguard the country from the devastating impacts of fires. Since then, the landscape of fire protection in Serbia has undergone significant development, adapting to various forms of state regulation and continually evolving up to the present day. This evolution is evident in the “Strategy of Fire Protection 2012-2017,” which outlines the nation’s commitment to managing fire risks.

Since 2009, all forest management enterprises in Serbia have been required to report forest fires in areas under their jurisdiction to the Directorate of Forests, using a unique geoinformation system. This initiative has significantly improved the accuracy and timeliness of fire-related data.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management’s Directorate of Forests has also compiled data on forest fires and burnt areas from 2009 to 2023, shedding light on recent trends in fire incidents and their impact on forested areas.

Analysis reveals that southern Serbia, encompassing regions like Kuršumlija, Niš, and Vranje, has consistently witnessed a higher number of fires and more extensive affected areas. This geographical insight is essential for strategic fire management planning.

In 2007, Serbia faced 258 registered forest fires that burnt 33,000 hectares of vegetation, with 16,000 hectares being forested land. These fires resulted in approximately 40 million euros in damages, with an additional 24 million euros required for rehabilitation efforts.

Data from the Statistical Office reveals damages from forest fires in state forests from 2009 to 2023, with 43,416 hectares burnt, and 175293 cubic meters of forest growing stock loss over the years.

The year 2012 stands out as the most severe, with 13226 hectares affected and 63,118 cubic meters of damaged forest growing stock.