It doesn’t take long for a spark to ignite and turn into towering red flames devouring a forest. But it can take much longer for rescue teams to receive a call for help and reach the scene – especially in remote, mountainous terrain.
Prepositioned firefighters in high risk areas
In a wildfire emergency, speed is critical and every second counts. That’s one of the reasons why the European Union has been strategically prepositioning firefighters in high-risk areas, mainly in the south of the continent. They remain on standby throughout the hot summer months, ready to join local responders as quickly as possible.
But the programme is about more than strengthening national firefighting capacity – it’s also about sharing expertise and exchanging best practices. It helps prepare firefighters from northern regions where wildfires were once rare but due to climate change, are becoming increasingly common – making these skills essential for the future.
Launched in 2022 as a pilot project, the EU prepositioning initiative has steadily grown – from 236 firefighters and 6 sending countries in its first year to 671 firefighters from 14 countries today.
We recently visited 2 of the 6 teams prepositioned in Greece – 1 from Romania and 1 from France, based in Nea Makri near Athens. Here are the highlights.
Between July and September, nearly 680 firefighters from 14 European countries - Italy, Romania, Germany, Slovakia, Greece, Bulgaria, Moldova, Czechia, Austria, France, Latvia, Malta, Estonia, and the Netherlands – were strategically pre-positioned in high-risk areas of France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
Greece welcomed 6 teams from Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Moldova, and Romania.
Colonel Vasileios Bikas has been the main liaison officer of the EU prepositioning programme in Greece since 2022.
'Through preparation you have the opportunity to build a strong team—getting to know each other, learning each other’s names, even understanding one another’s backgrounds. That way, you’ll perform better, when the real situation - a forest fire, arrives.'
Hands-on training during downtime
When they’re not actively responding to fires, the prepositioned teams take part in classroom-based training or practice hands-on skills.
In this image, a Romanian firefighter trains using a fire truck driving simulator.
Real-life simulation drills, conducted either at the base of operations or in the field, test the teams’ firefighting skills and ability to collaborate internationally under safe, controlled conditions – while also fostering knowledge exchange through hands-on practice.
On days with high fire risk, teams are strategically pre-positioned near forests and other green areas, allowing them to respond more quickly if an emergency arises.
Nicolas is the team leader of the French team prepositioned in Greece from Corsica.
’This is the third time my unit has been prepositioned here in Greece, and each time we are very glad to help. We hope they face as few wildfire emergencies as possible in their country, but we will always be ready to lend a hand if needed.’
Firefighters respond rapidly to a local wildfire
In the event of a fire emergency, local responders—in this case, the Greek authorities—take the lead and coordinate through liaison officers from the prepositioned teams, who relay instructions to their crews.
During our visit, a wildfire erupted about 20 km from the operations base in Nea Makri, in the Paiania region, threatening:
- critical facilities
- small industries
- numerous homes
Both the Romanian and French teams were mobilised to support the response.
Under the coordination of the Hellenic liaison officers, both EU prepositioned teams were integrated into the operation and deployed across 2 sectors to help contain and extinguish the fire.
Thanks to their joint efforts, the situation was brought under control relatively quickly.
Residents, including vulnerable elderly people, watched the wildfire response unfold. Some even grabbed buckets and hoses to protect their homes and land.
A rapid firefighting response can mean the difference between saving lives and shielding entire communities from devastating losses.
Prepositioning also helps prepare teams for future international missions under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, ensuring, among other things, that their equipment is compatible.
For example, certain hose couplings may not fit together without an adaptor or an extra connector. Identifying these issues in advance allows teams to find solutions and avoid delays during a crisis—when every second counts.
Finally, the programme is also about building trust, strong working relationships, and friendships. This European team spirit proves invaluable in any EU emergency response.
'Firefighters are a family. No matter where our work takes us, we stand together as one. That’s the most important thing—we do everything as a family,' shares Simona Cojocar from the Romanian prepositioned team.
As wildfire risks rise across Europe, the EU continues to invest in prevention and preparedness measures, including the acquisition of firefighting airplanes and helicopters, with the first helicopters expected to become operational next year.
The prepositioning initiative also plays a crucial role in strengthening wildfire readiness, thanks to the dedication and solidarity of all the hosting and participating teams.
