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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Together, one step ahead of wildfires: how Croatia’s firefighters helped Slovenia extinguish the flames

When fires broke out in Slovenia in July 2022, the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism sprang into action. EU satellite mapping helped determine the progression and direction of the fires, and firefighters flew in from a nearby base in Croatia.

Information is key

Flying to the rescue

EU cooperation through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism gives countries with no aerial firefighting assets a tool to fight wildfires. The rescEU fleet, which is part of the Mechanism, is becoming more and more important

Igor Mindoljević

Preparing for the future

Light aircraft
12

new light aircrafts in 2023

Helicopter
3

new helicopters in 2023

Firefighting capacities
2x

firefighting capacity in 2023

During the 2022 fire season in Europe, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated 11 times, mobilising 33 planes, 8 helicopters, and around 350 firefighters and other types of support for tackling wildfires. 

The future will only be hotter, with unusual and unprecedented weather events.  

To ensure that we can respond to the growing risk of wildfires, forecasting systems such as EFFIS will continue to improve, and the EU will strengthen its firefighting resources.  

Ahead of the 2023 wildfire season, the EU is already planning to double its rescEU firefighting capacity with up to 12 additional light aircraft and 3 new helicopters. 

Discover more stories

Man on the left in pilot's uniform in front of a helicopter and man on the right standing in front of large screens with maps

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When fires broke out in Slovenia in July 2022, the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism sprang into action. EU satellite mapping determined the progression and direction of the fires and Austrian helicopter pilot Josef Samonig used this to decide where to focus his firefighting efforts.

Man on the left in pilot's uniform in front of a firefighting plane and man on the right working at a computer

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Man on the left in uniform holding a helmet and man on the right working at a computer with maps on the screen

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