Soldiers join firefighters in battle against forest fires in Bosnia's south

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Hercegovina (AFP) Jul 24, 2003
Bosnian Serb soldiers joined firefighters Thursday battling forest fires raging in south of the country for almost a week, a fire services commander said.

Most of the fires, which broke out in the region last Friday, were under control, he said.

However, a blaze near the southern town of Trebinje, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Sarajevo, is still spreading, he said, adding that 50 soldiers had joined firefighters in the remote region.

The fires have destroyed up to 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of woodland and bush so far but the local population has not been at risk, officials said.

TERRA.WIRE