Members of the Croatian Air Force’s 855th Firefighting Squadron were awarded medals for assistance to civilian institutions on 3 October at the “Colonel Mirko Vukušić” barracks in Zemunik, in recognition of their efforts in fighting wildfires in Croatia and abroad. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić presented the medals to the flight crews, thanking the pilots and aircraft maintenance personnel for their work during a demanding firefighting season.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Defence, aerial firefighting forces responded to 146 wildfires and carried out 81 fire reconnaissance missions along the Adriatic coast between 15 June and 30 September 2026. During these operations, they completed 8,156 flights, accumulated 1,163 hours and 20 minutes of flight time, and dropped 39,541 tonnes of water. By comparison, the figures reported for 2025 were 128 wildfires and 54 fire reconnaissance missions.

Croatian firefighting crews were deployed abroad four times this year: once to France and three times to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their international operations were among the topics highlighted at the award ceremony, during which Anušić said that praise from allied countries reflected the expertise and quality of Croatian crews.

“It is an immense honour and a source of pride for me as Defence Minister when I attend meetings with our NATO and European Union allies and everyone praises our pilots and the flight crews of our Canadair aircraft,” Anušić said. He added that the work of firefighting crews, who operate in extremely demanding and hazardous conditions, deserved particular attention and recognition.

Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, emphasised the squadron’s importance to civilians, who draw reassurance from its operations in times of danger. Medals for assistance to civilian institutions are awarded to Croatian Armed Forces personnel who use their military knowledge and skills to save civilians in life-threatening situations.

Colonel Milan Došen, commander of the 855th Firefighting Squadron, part of the Croatian Air Force’s 93rd Wing, highlighted the reputation its personnel have earned through international operations. “These people are recognised around the world as highly skilled professionals with extensive expertise. When they arrive in another country, they are not followers — they are leaders. Their opinions and advice are sought. That is why we are particularly pleased when their commitment and hard work are recognised at home as well,” Došen said.

Major Ante Vranjić, commander of the squadron’s 2nd Flight Platoon, also spoke about this year’s operations, describing the wildfire in France as the largest he had helped fight. He praised cooperation with his French colleagues, while noting that operations in Croatia had also been highly demanding.

Alongside flight crews, aircraft maintenance personnel responsible for the Canadair CL-415 and Air Tractor AT-802 fleets form an essential part of the aerial firefighting system. Lieutenant Vedran Zekan, commander of the Maintenance Platoon, highlighted the scale of the work required before each aircraft deployment, from planning to the efforts of technicians, mechanics and engineers. “Firefighting requires a collective effort. This year was difficult; we sometimes worked in the field from four in the morning until as late as eleven at night. The most challenging wildfires were on Brač, on the Pelješac peninsula and in Omiš,” Zekan said.