Šibenik, (IKA) – In a fire that broke out in the Kornati National Park near Šibenik, in the territory of the Šibenik Diocese, six firefighters lost their lives and seven are still in critical condition. Bishop Ante Ivas of Šibenik expressed his condolences to the families of the firefighters and also made a public statement: “At this grave and sorrowful moment when you are afflicted by unendurable pain, I wish to be with you. I wish to participate in your sorrows with silence, because I know that at such a time every word is superfluous. Please accept my Christian and human solidarity and my sincere condolences,” wrote the bishop. Of the firefighters who were killed, he stated: “They wanted to do a great deed for all of us, which frequently requires heroic courage and intercession, the noble act of protecting our homeland from the plague of fire, which every year on our seacoast causes increasing material damages and an increasing number of human victims.” The bishop emphasized that the tragedy of the firefighters compels us to have greater understanding for the services which are of general social significance and for the people who perform their duties in these services with love, and are frequently insufficiently appreciated by the community, by us individuals, as well as by those who are responsible for their proper functioning.