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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

EU solidarity to combat wildfires across the continent

Europe is facing a very intense wildfire season this summer, with greater number of fires and larger areas burnt compared to previous years.

Major fires have spread in Portugal and Spain, southern France, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Czechia, and many other European countries.

In pictures, see how the EU is responding to forest fires across Europe, swiftly mobilising assistance to support those countries in need.

2 civil protection colleagues looking at a map on a table
When the scale of a fire overwhelms the response capabilities of a country, it can request assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. As of the end of July, the Mechanism has already been activated 6 times to provide wildfire assistance.
© European Union, 2022
Firemen on a hill in a burning forest
The EU swiftly coordinated assistance to Czechia where a large forest fire burned in a national park. Poland and Slovakia mobilised 3 helicopters. The EU also sent 2 rescEU planes from Italy, and 2 rescEU planes from Sweden to Czechia on 27 and 29 July.
© Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.
View on a forest fire filled with smoke
When Slovenia requested EU support for fires in the Gorica region on 20 July, the EU coordinated 3 firefighting planes from Romania, 5 helicopters from Austria, Croatia, Slovakia and Serbia, and a Croatian ground firefighting team with fire engines.
© European Union, 2022
Firefighting plane dropping water over a burning forest
Moreover, a firefighting plane from the rescEU reserve stationed in Croatia was deployed to Slovenia on the day EU assistance was requested.
© European Union, 2022
2 persons handing over a plaque with in the background a group of firefighters and a firefighting plane
Greece operated 2 firefighting airplanes in France on 16 and 17 July, where wildfires affected the departments Bouches-du-Rhône and Aude. Greek pilots dropped water 36 times – an equivalent of more than 200,000 litres poured on active fires.
© French Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Crisis Management, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.
Group picture of firefighters in front of a firefighting plane
Solidarity by Greece was recognised by their French colleagues. When fires are active, additional planes from other countries make a real difference.
© French Civil Protection, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.
View from within a firefighting plane of a fire on top of a hill
In July, wildfires also affected several regions of Portugal. When Portugal requested assistance on 9 July, the EU swiftly dispatched 4 firefighting airplanes from its rescEU fleet.
© Italian Civil Protection, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.
Aerial view of a hill with burning forests
During the operation, 2 of those airplanes flew from Spain on 10 and 11 July. They dropped water 61 times. 2 more airplanes flew in from Italy and carried out 134 water drops.
© Spanish Civil Protection, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.
2 firefighting planes flying next to each other
Not only Member States can request EU assistance. For example, Greece came to support Albania in June and July and operated firefighting planes to help extinguish fires in the region of Vlora.
© Greek Civil Protection, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.
A team of firefighters in front of firefighting trucks
More than 200 firefighters and technical equipment from Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Romania, and Norway were posted to Greece this summer. The firefighters are supporting Greek first responders in July and August.
© Romania Emergency Inspectorate, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.
2 ERCC colleagues in front of a map hanging on a wall
With one of the most fire-prone months still ahead, the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre remains in contact with European countries. The Centre stands ready to assist whenever help is needed.
© European Union, 2018 (photographer: Pavel Koubek)

Story by Tim Gillmair, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid operations.
Publication date: 29/07/2022