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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

EU solidarity with France: fighting forest fires together

In August, several devastating fires have burned large areas of forest and forced people to flee their homes.

Following a request for assistance by France, the EU launched one of its largest emergency operations in the country.

Via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU coordinated 6 firefighting planes from its rescEU fleet positioned in Greece, Italy, and Sweden.

In addition, more than 400 firefighters with more than 100 vehicles from Austria, Germany, Poland, and Romania supported French first responders.

In a true spirit of European solidarity to face this fire emergency together, these countries sent their assistance within hours from the request for support.

Plane fighting fires in France
At least 250 wildfires burned across France. The department of Gironde was particularly affected. In parallel, France faced wildfires in Brittany.
© French Ministry of the Interior (photographer: Jose Rocha)
Romania dispatched their military plane to fly in fire engines, firefighting teams and equipment to southwest France.
Other EU countries did not let any time pass to assist France in facing this unprecedented emergency. Romania dispatched their military plane to fly in fire engines, firefighting teams and equipment to south-west France.
© European Union, 2022
EU assistance to combat forest fires in France (Visit to the German camp - Hostens, France)
Germany came by road with fire engines, firefighting teams and equipment.
© European Union, 2022
Austria has been equally supporting this operation with teams, fire engines and equipment.
Austria has been equally supporting this operation with teams, fire engines and equipment.
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Jeremy Mazenq)
Polish teams provided assistance and arrived in a convoy of fire engines.
Also Polish teams provided assistance and arrived in a convoy of fire engines.
© European Union, 2022
Claire, the EU liaison officer, ensured smooth coordination among all teams on the ground.
European teams were regularly briefed at the base of operations. Claire, the EU liaison officer, ensured smooth coordination among all teams on the ground.
© European Union, 2022
Firefighting planes from Italy and Greece joined their French counterpart in fighting the fires. Together they operated 77 water drops.
Firefighting planes from Italy and Greece joined their French counterpart in fighting the fires. Together they operated 77 water drops.
© European Union, 2022
In parallel, 2 planes from Sweden fought fires in Brittany alongside their French colleagues. Swedish planes dropped water 124 times over the fires.
In parallel, 2 planes from Sweden fought fires in Brittany alongside their French colleagues. Swedish planes dropped water 124 times over the fires.
© SDIS 56 (photographer: Alexis Moreau)
French ground firefighting teams came to support their colleagues from all across the country.
French ground firefighting teams came to support their colleagues from all across the country.
© European Union, 2022
The joint-European fire operation and some rainfall averted the wildfire from spreading even further.
The joint European fire operation and some rainfall averted the wildfire from spreading even further. But the risk of new fires flaring up in the area remained the situation day and night.
© European Union, 2022
Citizens that had been evacuated could finally return to their homes and demonstrated their gratitude to European heroes involved.
Citizens that had been evacuated could finally return to their homes and demonstrated their gratitude to European heroes involved.
© European Union, 2022

Story by Tim Gillmair, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
Publication date: 18/08/2022 

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