The Montenegrin Ministry of Defence announced on August 12 that junior sergeant Dejan Bozovic from Danilovgrad was killed and sergeant Marko Ikovic sustained serious injuries while helping to extinguish a wildfire in the Kuci area, northeast of Podgorica.

Montenegro has been battling multiple wildfires over the past two days, forcing evacuations as authorities deployed all available resources, Vijesti reported a day earlier. The blazes have destroyed houses, properties, and forests across several regions, with the Protection and Rescue Service, Air-Helicopter Unit, the army, utility companies, and local residents joining forces to contain the flames.

In Podgorica, acting commander Nikola Bojanovic described the blaze in Djurkovici and Piperi as “a fire that has engulfed the area”, with more than 20 vehicles and all city firefighters deployed. Other fires broke out in Kokoti, Kuci, Mali Brdo and along the Podgorica-Cetinje road, causing temporary traffic closures.

The interior ministry said Montenegro activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism at 11:28 a.m. on August 11, later receiving confirmation of potential aircraft deployment. Assistance also arrived from Serbia under a bilateral agreement, with a Kamov helicopter joining aerial firefighting efforts by late afternoon.

In the coastal municipalities, Budva and Bar crews battled a blaze that spread from Buljarica to Canj after a car fire on the Adriatic motorway.

Bar’s Protection and Rescue Service commander, Aco Vulevic, was cited as saying that firefighters defended residential buildings with support from the army, volunteer associations, and neighbouring municipalities. Strong easterly winds complicated containment.

Further north, Bijelo Polje faced new fires at Biokovac-Grab, while smouldering hotspots at Zuber required continued monitoring. Many properties were at risk and warned the public against outdoor burning amid high temperatures.

One firefighter was slightly injured during operations in Piperi. The terrain’s inaccessibility hindered efforts in several locations, though many fires were brought under partial control by late afternoon.

Montengro's Prime Minister Milojko Spajic pledged full government support to those affected. “We will provide all the necessary help to repair the consequences and restore what was lost,” he said, expressing gratitude to firefighters and international partners from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, the EU, and Nato.

According to the government statement, Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanovic held talks on August 12 with his Italian colleague Antonio Tajani, who confirmed that Italian firefighting aircraft will be also sent to Montenegro during the day.

Montenegro’s protection and rescue system relies heavily on manpower, with over 780 employees across 23 municipal services, 636 in operational roles. However, Tuzi and Zeta municipalities still lack formal services, raising concerns over preparedness for extreme fire seasons.

As temperatures remain high, emergency services continue to fight active blazes and monitor threatened areas, with hopes that calmer weather will help bring the crisis under control.

Other countries in the region including Albania and Croatia have also been battling wildfires during the ongoing heatwave.