Expected climate change predictions are suggesting that the occurrence of more pronounced and longer dry periods with an increased fire risk and significant redistribution of annual precipitation may be expected in Croatia. Consequently, an increase of soil water repellency (SWR) is expected. The aim of this thesis is to determine the impact of the fire on the hydraulic characteristics of the soil, the possible appearance of soil hydrophobicity and its influence on infiltration and water flow in the unsaturated soil (vadose) zone. Infiltration experiments with water and ethanol on highly affected (A), affected (B) and control (C) site (non-affected), were used as a basis for the inverse determination of hydraulic parameters required for calibration of a computer model (HYDRUS 2D/3D). The one-year climatic scenario with the application of real meteorological data is then simulated using the HYDRUS-1D software program. The results of a large reduction in soil hydraulic conductivity of the soil (Ks) in sites A and B indicate SWR. Seasonal (one year) simulation did not show a significant impact of SWR on the water balance. On the other hand, by simulating the period of intensive precipitation, the results indicated that SWR caused by longer dry periods and short intensive precipitation increases surface runoff and reduces the infiltration capacity of the soil.