Taming the Dragon - Dalmatia 2002 Index Exercise "Taming the Dragon - Dalmatia 2002" General outline Exercise aims and objectives Exercise area Intro Exercise scenario Press Advisory 7 May 2002 14 May 2002 Exercise "Taming the Dragon - Dalmatia 2002" Field Exercise "Taming the dragon - Dalmatia 2002" is a Croatian contribution to the Partnership Work Programme (PWP). The exercise will be primarily conducted as a PWP Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) and Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Unit (EADRU) activity. It will also involve other existing networks and organizations such as the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative (DPPI) of the Stability Pact, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the South East Europe Group (SEEGROUP). The scenario for the field exercise is developed on "wild fires", which is one of the risks common to all countries of South East Europe and adjacent countries. Therefore, the exercise builds upon experiences and lessons learnt by Croatia, other countries of the Region, and the EADRCC during wild fires in previous years. The exercise will be conducted in the area between the cities of Trogir, Ploce, Imotski and Sinj in the Southern coastal part of Croatia. and mainly in the city of Makarska. It will be conducted from 21 to 24 May 2002, prior to the "wild fire season".
Exercise general outline The exercise has attracted a large number of participants. At this stage there are 19 countries, including the host nation, participating with teams of staff officers. Another 3-5 countries will participate with observers. All the countries in the Balkan area will be there, either with teams or with observers. Altogether there will be: * 650 people from Croatia forming around 60 teams * 450 people from assisting nations, around 50 teams * 250 Vehicles * 6 Aircraft * 8 Helicopters * 1 Ship * 10 Boats Teams participating in the exercise are expected to arrive on 21 May 2002 before 16.00 to receive information and prepare for the actual exercise. On 22 and 23 May 2002, a full-scale field exercise will be conducted (22 May from 05.00 until 17.00; on 23 May 2002 from 05.00 until 14.00). In addition, on 24 May 2002, a joint demonstration will be conducted in Basko Polje near Makarska, at the foot of the Biokovo Mountain. Exercise aims and objectives Exercise Aim The aim of Exercise "Taming the Dragon - Dalmatia 2002" is to practice Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) procedures and Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Unit (EADRU) capabilities in order to improve the EAPC and other South East European countries' ability to respond to a disaster. Exercise Objectives The objectives for this field exercise include: * Regional Cooperation among neighbouring countries; * Deployment of various civil or military disaster response elements within the stricken nation; * Reception and host nation support for civil or military disaster response elements; * Coordination and communication of the Croatian Local Emergency Management Authority (LEMA) with national and international disaster relief elements;
* Cooperation between international disaster response elements and Croatian disaster relief elements; * Cooperation with UN-OCHA; * Fire-fighting, search and rescue, mountain rescue, water rescue, evacuation of affected population and medical evacuation; * Interoperability of communication procedures; * Training of Croatian LEMA and liaison officers from participating National Elements; * Logistic support of National Elements of an EADRU during operations; and * Public information during disasters. Exercise sites Lead-in scenario and Startex situation In the early hours of 19 May 2002, sudden thunderstorms without rain but with strong south-east winds set the vegetation ablaze in various locations between the cities of Makarska and Basˇka Voda, north of the Adriatic highway. Due to long periods of drought, the fires - carried by the strong wind and facilitated by the vegetation and terrain characteristics - spread very rapidly towards Basˇka Voda with the risk of merging into one big fire. Most of the fires move towards Basˇka Voda and the villages located at the foot of the Biokovo Mountain, producing a minor fire front towards Makarska. After six hours, the wind direction changes and a strong
north-western wind starts to blow, carrying the fires towards Makarska, the villages on the steep slopes of Biokovo, the Adriatic highway and the sea. The villages that are immediately endangered by the fire are Andrijasˇevici (on the northern side of the Adriatic highway), Promajna (on the coast), "Djecje selo" (a holiday and health resort), Basˇko Polje (a campsite and holiday resort), as well as a few villages on the Biokovo slopes. After the change of the wind direction, the villages of Turnici, Gojaci, Puharici, Batinici, Sv. Ivan, Makar, Mlinice, north of Makarska, are endangered. The high-voltage power transmission lines have to be disconnected leaving the whole area without power supply. In addition, the water supply for a large part of the region is interrupted. The population in the affected area, including the Basˇka Voda municipality and the city of Makarska, is 15,900 people. The Basˇka Voda holiday resort accommodates 250 guests, while twenty-nine families (112 persons) are also staying in the campsite. The fires cross the Adriatic Highway and pose an immediate threat to the inhabitants of Andrijasˇevici and Promajna, as well as to the guests of the hotels in Krvavice holiday resort, the Basˇko Polje campsite and the patients of the "Djecje selo" health resort. They have to be evacuated by sea with the assistance of the Croatian Navy. The Civil Protection Service of the Police Administration of Split-Dalmatia, in cooperation with the Social Care Centre and the Red Cross, have temporarily provided accomodation for these people in hotels in Basˇka Voda. The traffic on the Adriatic highway is interrupted at the village of Andrijasˇevici; from the south, it is redirected from Brela via Sˇestanovci, to Imotski; and from the north, it is also redirected to Imotski from Makarska. Local traffic from the northern entrance into Makarska to Basˇka Voda is also interrupted. In addition to the forest, the dense underbrush and agricultural areas near the villages are now on fire. There are many vineyards, olive-groves, fig-orchards and horticultural plants in the gardens near the villages that catch fire making es fire-fighting more difficult. Immediately after the outbreak of the fires, the voluntary fire-fighting brigades from the Makarska Riviera start operating. However, as the fire continues to spread the Public Fire Brigade of Split and other voluntary fire brigades from Split-Dalmatia County join in to help. The Fire-fighting Air Force and the Firefighting Intervention Force of the Ministry of Interior accompany them. As a consequence of the long drought, a large number of wild fires are ablaze in the coastal area of Istra, Sˇibnik-Knin, Split-Dalmatia and Dubrovnik-Neretva. This necessitates deploying all existing national firefighting capabilities, consequently the Republic of Croatia requests international assistance. A request is sent to neighbouring states, especially to those that have signed bilateral agreements on cooperation in protection and rescue; member states of the SEECMEP and to NATO/PfP countries through the EADRCC. The requirements for assistance are land and air fire-fighting forces, mountain rescue, search and rescue, water rescue, equipment for the provision of drinkable water, and first aid equipment. The Ministry of Health uses the capabilities of the Split Clinical Hospital (Firule) to organize two mobile medical teams and to establish a field hospital near Basˇko Polje. The mobile teams are used for triage and first aid to possible casualties from the area between Brela and Ploce. Other medical institutions are in a state of preparedness, for a large number of casualties that might occur among fire fighters and inhabitants of the coastal area.
On 19 May 2002, the fire in the area of Basˇko Polje is partially under control and the Local Emergency Management Authority (LEMA) requests that specialised units of the Croatian Army participate in the firefighting. In some areas the fire has crossed the fire-fighting line and it is necessary to introduce additional forces and to replace those that had already been deployed. Fire-fighters from other parts of the country and members of the intervention fire-fighting units of the Civil Defence are engaged for that purpose. At the morning of 20 May 2002, the fire in the area of Basˇko Polje is not under control and is approaching the outskirts of populated villages. During 21 May 2002, international teams arrive and the LEMA takes stock of national and international resources available for intervention. EXERCISE SCENARIO During 21 May 2002, the major task of the national forces is to get the fire near Brela under control. At the same time, the action plan for the use of international teams in being prepared by the LEMA. In addition, with the assistance of the Liaison Officers from the teams participating in the EADRU, the capabilities for intervention and the equipment of individual national teams are assessed. Also communication matters and the deployment of teams are organised. In the early morning of 22 May 2002, the international firefighting and rescue teams are ready to be activated. During the night of 21 to 22 May 2002, the situation near Cista Velika becomes worse and the local firefighting forces assisted by the fire-fighting units of the Police Administration Split-Dalmatia can no longer cope with the situation. The assistance of the EADRU is requested. On 22 May 2002 at 09.00, international teams are sent from their campsite in Basˇko Polje to the fire site north of Cista Velika, to carry out the requested tasks. Around 14.30, the fires are under control, and as of 15.30, the control over the burnt area is taken over by the Croatian forces, the international forces return to their base. At the same time, the international teams are engaged in three other activities: * A mountain rescue team is in the area of Promajna searching for tourists. * A Search and Rescue Team is searching for a group of people, allegedly trapped under a landslide near Podpec (along the road from Makarska to Vrgorac). * A water rescue team is searching for a group of tourists from a yacht, which turned over near Basˇko Polje. In the morning of 23 May 2002, the situation is getting worse along the road from Makarska to Vrgorac and at 08.00, national elements of the EADRU are deployed to fire-sites in Podpec and Sˇosˇici. The fires are completely extinguished at 13.00. Also on 23 May 2002, North of Basˇko Polje a house, which was on fire a week earlier, collapses. According to the reports the owner and two construction workers were present and are trapped under the debris. Search and rescue teams of the EADRU are sent to the site.
The mountain rescue team continues the rescue of the three mountaineers trapped on a rock in the Biokovo Mountain. Near Basˇka Voda, a sailing boat and a jet boat collide, and two persons are reported missing. EADRU water rescue teams are sent to the site to start a search operation. During the night of 23 to 24 May 2002, fires start again on the fringes of the fire sites; all fire-fighting lines are crossed and around 10.30 the fire suddenly comes closer to Basˇko Polje campsite, where the national elements of the EADRU are staying. All available fire-fighting forces are deployed to the campsite. At around 11.30, in a long queue of vehicles, on the Adriatic Highway between Basˇka Voda and Bratusˇ, a collision between a bus and a truck occurs. The truck is loaded with twenty containers each carrying 50 kg of liquefied chlorine. The truck turns over and a number fall out.the valve of one of the containers is broken and chlorine is leaking out. In addition, gasoline leaks from the truck's fuel tank, but so far no fire has started. During the collision one driver and twenty-five bus passengers are slightly injured, and ten passengers seriously injured. Persons injured by the collision as well as those assisting them (drivers and other persons on the scene of the accident) are seriously contaminated by the chlorine spill. It is impossible to get closer than 50 meters to the place of the accident without protective clothing. The voluntary fire fighters from Makarska, who were engaged in fire-fighting some 150 meters from the accident, intervene, but have to withdraw because of the chlorine vapours. The Commander of the voluntary fire fighters requests assistance from the LEMA. The LEMA urgently sends the Fire-fighting Intervention Unit of the Ministry of Interior and the Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) team of the Croatian Army, who are based in the Basˇko Polje campsite. These forces are able to bring the injured persons out of the danger zone, to decontaminate them and provide first aid to the victims. They also decontaminate the terrain and remove the remaining containers in order to prevent further accidents. One of the fires is spreading towards the Biokovo slopes, a group of trackers from the Krst area (756 m) above the village of Basˇovici cannot get down. This is their fourth day there and without food and water supplies. It is necessary to organise their rescue by air. EADRU teams arrive using the nearest available roads circumventing the chemical vapour and join in the fire-fighting on Basˇka Voda-Promajna line. The fire front now is approximately 2,5 km wide and keeps on getting closer to houses and the camp.
Press Advisory 28 Countries to Jointly Practice Forest Fire Fighting in Croatia 22-24 May - Invitation to Media Forest fires can be a curse during the Mediterranean summer season. It is against this background that Croatia and NATO are conducting an international forest fire fighting exercise in cooperation with the Stability Pact 22-24 May 2002 in the Makarska area (Croatia). The exercise, labelled "Taming the Dragon - Dalmatia 2002" is the biggest ever conducted in Europe, with 28 countries involved: 13 participating countries (Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, FYR Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine)), and 15 observing (Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, FR Yugoslavia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Spain, Turkey, UK, USA). Up to 1000 participants, including close to 100 fire fighting and rescue teams will participate in 67 events at the exercise. It is a joint military-civilian operation, which will mark an important step on the way to establishing regional cooperation amongst the various disaster relief units in Southeastern Europe and Nato's Euro Atlantic Disaster Response Unit. The exercise will be conducted near the cities of Trogir, Ploce, Imotski and Sinj (Makarska Riviera) on a stretch of the Dalmatian coast, where topography provides for excellent conditions for conducting the exercise as well as for viewing it. This event holds several highlights, especially for picture press, to which you are kindly invited. They include air reconnaissance, fire fighting by helicopter, rescue operations for trapped fire fighters, simulated traffic accidents with hazardous materials etc. On the first two days of the exercise (22nd and 23rd May), several teams will be performing exercises on up to ten locations. On the third day of the exercise (24th May), a major demonstration on one location is foreseen. A summary of all the exercises the national teams from the participating countries performed during the first two days will be given. It is also VIP day. Accreditation: Media are kindly invited to register with the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, Public Relations Department, Tel. +385 (1) 6122-353, before 10 May 2002. Accreditation forms can be downloaded from http://www.mup.hr/vijesti/zmaj/vjezba.html (Croatian) or can be downloaded from this site (.PDF/87Kb). The registration form should be sent to the following fax numbers: +385 (1) 612 27 71 or +385 (1) 612 2063, or e-mail address: zbardic@mup.hr. Press Centre there is a Press Centre in Basko Polje. It will be equipped with computers as well as with telephones and fax lines. The representatives of media will receive all the material regarding the parts of the exercise they want to cover. Professional camera crew will be filming the last day of the exercise. Their material will be put at disposal of journalists. Press Briefings At the Press Centre, at least one briefing a day will be held, as well as a press conference(s) as needed. The Public Relations Team [ Tel. +385 (1) 6122-353 ] will - upon request - organise additional contacts, interviews, visits to national teams, etc.
Press Advisory 28 Nations Civil Protection Wildfire Fighting Exercise in Croatia - Briefing for Media Media are kindly invited to a briefing on the exercice called "Taming the Dragon - Dalmatia 2002", which will be held on 22-24 May in the Makarska area (Croatia), on 17 May 2002 at 10.30h Office of the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe 50 Rue Wiertz - 1050 Brussels 2nd floor (OHR Meeting Room) The briefing will be given by: * Stephen Orosz, Director CEPD - Civil Emergency Planning Directorate NATO * Ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak, Chairman of the Stability Pact Working Table III (Security) * Evert G. J. Somers, Euro Atlantic Disaster Response Co-ordination Centre, NATO The firefighting exercise is the biggest such event ever conducted in Europe, with up to participants representing 100 firefighting and rescue teams. It is jointly organized by Croatia and NATO in cooperaton with the Stability Pact. (See attached press advisory of 6 May 2002.) or further information, pls contact Ms. Ariane Quentier, NATO Press Officer, Relations with Media, Tel. +32 (2) 707.14.59, Fax. +32 (2) 707.50.57 / 58, e-mail: a.quentier@hq.nato.int.