For several days, the Karst had been burning with unprecedented intensity, the smoke spreading far and wide wherever the wind took it. Living in the city, I was not afraid of the direct consequences of the fire, but I still read the latest news out of curiosity. On Facebook, I came across a post from the Renče-Vogrsko municipality, asking for volunteer help in making firebreaks to contain the fire. I remembered how our neighbours had once helped us when there was a fire in our house and quickly decided to come to the rescue. I changed my clothes, made a quick check of the chainsaw and set off.
At the meeting point, everything was in organised chaos. People were bringing food and drinks, some of them sorting and sending it to the field, making the community hall a canteen for the many volunteers. The rest of us gathered and waited for instructions. Soon we were in the van and the SUV and off we went to meet the fire. Following the firefighters' instructions, we began to make the cross section, ready to retreat to safety at the sound of the siren. Some of us cut down the trees, others sawed them down, and still others carried branches away.
Even though we came together from all winds, we felt very connected to each other. I felt that I was part of a big family, striving for a better future together. It is difficult to put these feelings into words. In life, we are constantly confronted with disagreements, desires to assert our beliefs and quarrels over trifles. That has not been the case here. All strangers - all friends; all focused on one thing. We encouraged each other as we worked, joked a little and got to know each other during the short pauses when the chainsaws got thirsty and so did we. Our thirst and that of the chainsaws was dutifully quenched.
Although it was practically impossible to organise work in such extreme situations, everything went smoothly. There were many chances of injury, but no one was hurt. It was as if an invisible force was coordinating our actions. Although we were visibly tired, we all returned to the meeting point in the evening smiling and happy.
There we were greeted by good home-made food and drinks prepared by other volunteers. And lots of thank-yous. Everyone treated us like heroes. Until then, the only time I had experienced something like this was when I gave blood for the first time. We chatted a bit during dinner and made plans to meet again the next day.
In the following days I felt fantastic. The feeling that I had helped someone warmed my heart again and again. And also that bond that we instantly forged during our short time together, that sense of unity that is sadly becoming more and more absent because of the individualism that characterises the modern age. Only now do I understand the photographs from the past of our grandfathers and grandmothers, smiling, selflessly and with great courage, building their country from the ruins of war. I understand because in those three days I got much more than I gave.
Iztok Trampuž, 22 Mar 2025
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