Great attention is paid to forest protection from fires, since fires have always represented a major threat to forest ecosystems. This is particularly pronounced in the area of the Deliblato Sands and the Subotica–Horgoš Sands. With the aim of preventing the occurrence of forest fires and minimising their harmful consequences if they nevertheless occur, PE “Vojvodinašume” undertakes a whole range of preventive measures and activities, such as: construction of forest and access roads, construction and maintenance of firebreaks and fire lines, construction of biological fire belts, provision of water intakes, procurement of fire-fighting equipment, permanent observation through video surveillance, and organisation of duty services during the critical period when the greatest risk of fire exists.
In spite of the preventive measures implemented, in the period from 2003 to 2021, a total of 287 forest fires were recorded, with a burned area of 3,443.92 ha.
Overview of Forest Fires in the Area of PE “Vojvodinašume” in the Period 2003–2021
| Year | BRANCHES OF THE ENTERPRISE | PE “Vojvodinašume” | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Sremska Mitrovica” | “Banat” | “Novi Sad” | “Sombor” | |||
| 2003 | Number | 2 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 36 |
| Area (ha) | 1,50 | 35,77 | 7,70 | 11,78 | 56,75 | |
| 2004 | Number | 7 | 4 | 11 | ||
| Area (ha) | 57,36 | 6,11 | 63,47 | |||
| 2005 | Number | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Area (ha) | 3,00 | 9,00 | 12,00 | |||
| 2006 | Number | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9 | |
| Area (ha) | 34,00 | 10,00 | 12,03 | 56,03 | ||
| 2007 | Number | 6 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 25 |
| Area (ha) | 33,20 | 715,65 | 2,88 | 5,17 | 756,90 | |
| 2008 | Number | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| Area (ha) | 15,82 | 37,60 | 0,70 | 54,12 | ||
| 2009 | Number | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | |
| Area (ha) | 4,36 | 2,00 | 9,60 | 15,96 | ||
| 2010 | Number | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
| Area (ha) | 0,32 | 1,51 | 1,83 | |||
| 2011 | Number | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
| Area (ha) | 1,47 | 101,43 | 14,27 | 6,62 | 123,79 | |
| 2012 | Number | 5 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 53 |
| Area (ha) | 14,03 | 89,77 | 48,56 | 12,09 | 164,45 | |
| 2013 | Number | 5 | 5 | |||
| Area (ha) | 38,48 | 38,48 | ||||
| 2014 | Number | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Area (ha) | 0,28 | 1,50 | 1,78 | |||
| 2015 | Number | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
| Area (ha) | 3,00 | 6,58 | 1,00 | 1,80 | 12,38 | |
| 2016 | Number | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 | |
| Area (ha) | 19,02 | 7,50 | 0,35 | 26,87 | ||
| 2017 | Number | 4,00 | 10,00 | 6,00 | 5,00 | 25 |
| Area (ha) | 16,46 | 674,71 | 13,32 | 4,90 | 709,39 | |
| 2018 | Number | 1,00 | 6,00 | 3,00 | 3,00 | 13 |
| Area (ha) | 11,25 | 567,26 | 4,48 | 2,02 | 585,01 | |
| 2019 | Number | 5 | 11 | 6 | 22 | |
| Area (ha) | 7,13 | 519,89 | 4,58 | 531,60 | ||
| 2020 | Number | 1 | 9 | 2 | 12 | |
| Area (ha) | 0,35 | 210,83 | 0,32 | 211,50 | ||
| 2021 | Number | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| Area (ha) | 0,01 | 0,01 | 21,59 | 21,61 | ||
| TOTAL | Number | 50,00 | 104,00 | 47,00 | 86,00 | 287 |
| Area (ha) | 130,92 | 3.042,98 | 167,35 | 102,67 | 3.443,92 | |
It should be emphasised that the largest forest fire in recent history was the one that occurred on 10 August 1996 in the area of the Deliblato Sands, when a total area of 3,815 ha was burned. Our many years of experience show that the extent of damage from forest fires is directly conditioned by timely detection, since in the initial phase they are the easiest and fastest to extinguish. In this regard, in the area of the Deliblato Sands in the same year video surveillance was installed, which was later upgraded and modernised. Thanks to this, the terrain is permanently monitored, and in the event of smoke occurrence, a fire-fighting vehicle is dispatched to the site within ten minutes.
In accordance with the Law on Forests (Official Gazette of RS, No. 30/2010, 93/2012, 89/2015 and 95/2018 – other law), forest fire protection plans are prepared by the branches of the enterprise, which contain the following data:
- Assessment of the vulnerability of certain forest types to fire;
- Climatic conditions and the state of combustible material for the purpose of assessing the potential risk of fire;
- Plan of organized observation and reporting on the occurrence of forest fires during periods of increased fire risk;
- Plan of active duty services in forest administrations and forest estates during periods of increased fire risk;
- Equipment of the emergency intervention team, whose task is extinguishing fires in the initial phase of occurrence and spread;
- Overview of appropriate silvicultural measures aimed at reducing the risk of occurrence and spread of fire (plan of regular maintenance of fire lines);
- In extremely endangered areas, such as forests on sandy soils, the construction and maintenance of existing observation towers, firebreaks and water intakes is planned.
By organising thematic workshops in schools, the enterprise’s experts introduce children to “forest etiquette”, where, among other things, they are also acquainted with forest fire protection.
By printing and distributing promotional material on the topic of forest fire vulnerability, continuous work is carried out on raising public awareness and strengthening the responsible behaviour of every individual during their stay in the forest.
In the implementation of forest fire protection measures, the enterprise has exceptionally good cooperation with the Fire and Rescue Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as with fire-fighting associations.
