Croatian firefighters are facing greater risks as climate change fuels more frequent and severe wildfires, with hotter temperatures, drier landscapes and stronger winds threatening both rural and urban areas.
Ajit Niranjan reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Croatian firefighters struggle with hotter, drier conditions that cause wildfires to spread quickly and unpredictably.
- Tourism has added challenges, as clogged roads and abandoned farmland create more fire risks and complicate firefighting efforts.
- The Croatian government recently raised firefighter wages as the demands and dangers of the job continue to grow.
Key quote:
“Climate change has affected every part of the job.”
— Slavko Tucaković, Croatia’s chief firefighter
Why this matters:
Climate change is intensifying wildfires worldwide, forcing firefighting services to adapt to more extreme conditions. Croatia’s experience highlights how warming trends endanger lives and put a strain on local economies that depend on tourism.
Read more: Global study: Wildfire smoke kills people in cities far from fires
