Croatia has added 25 new camera locations to its early wildfire detection system, bringing the total number of monitoring units to 75. The network focuses on the country’s most at-risk natural areas, including national parks and protected zones.
The upgraded system combines artificial intelligence with meteorological data to detect smoke and flames and to forecast likely fire spread. Cameras operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year, automatically identifying signs of fire in both daytime and nighttime conditions. Captured images and analysis results are transmitted directly to county firefighting command centers, which can significantly speed up response times.
The expansion follows a series of wildfires in recent summers along parts of the Croatian coast that required repeated use of aerial firefighting resources. Authorities say improving early detection is increasingly urgent because climate change has made extreme weather events more frequent, and scrub and forest fires are igniting more often and with greater intensity.
Beyond protecting forests and built areas, the network aims to safeguard high-value ecosystems: faster detection and intervention can reduce damage to protected habitats and biodiversity. The investment is part of Croatia’s climate adaptation program and is financed through the 2021–2027 Competitiveness and Cohesion Program.
Image credit: Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu via Getty Images
Note: an AI assistant contributed to preparation of the original report; the final content was edited and verified by the newspaper’s journalist.
