EU Deploys Major Firefighting Effort Ahead of Wildfire Season

Brussels – The European Union has launched a large-scale firefighting operation to combat forest fires that have erupted across multiple countries in Europe, the European Commission announced on Friday.

The EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre has been working around the clock to direct aid to affected areas. Currently, Bulgaria and North Macedonia are receiving support following their requests to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in recent weeks.

In Bulgaria, the EU has deployed 10 planes and 2 helicopters to assist the country since it called for help on July 15. Meanwhile, in North Macedonia, 3 helicopters and 6 planes have been mobilized since July 30. At present, four planes from the EU’s rescEU reserve, based in Cyprus and Germany, are active in North Macedonia, with an additional helicopter from Slovenia set to begin operations on August 10.

The EU’s emergency satellite mapping system, “Copernicus,” is also providing assistance to Greece following a recent wildfire on the island of Crete.

In a broader effort to combat wildfires across the continent, the European Commission has established a European Civil Protection Pool. This pool includes 28 planes and 4 helicopters, stationed in 10 member states, ready to support firefighting efforts wherever needed.

Additionally, more than 540 firefighters from 12 countries have been strategically positioned in key locations across Europe—namely in France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain—to provide rapid assistance to local firefighting teams should new fires break out.