Europe – Wildfires

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 05:42:23 +02:00

As forest fires continue affecting various regions in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans, the European Commission has mobilised a response to five requests for assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Firefighting planes and ground forces from the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP), as well as firefighting planes from rescEU are involved in response.
Firefighting airplanes from France (ECPP) are responding to fires in Lazio in Italy.
Firefighting planes from Cyprus, France, Sweden (rescEU) and Croatia (rescEU) were deployed to support Greece. France deployed 2 ground forest firefighting units (ECPP, 82 rescuers) and Romania a team of 108 firefighters and 23 vehicles. An ERCC Liaison Officer was deployed to support the operations.
Two firefighting helicopters were dispatched from Czechia and the Netherlands to support operations in Albania.
Ground forest fire fighting teams from Slovenia (45 firefighters and 17 vehicles), Bulgaria (ECPP, 25 firefighters and 3 vehicles) and Austria (136 rescuers and 46 vehicles) are tackling fires in North Macedonia. An ERCC Liaison Officer was deployed to support the operations.
In Turkey, a firefighting airplane from Croatia (rescEU) is operating in the Antalya Province, and two from Spain (rescEU) are operating in Mugla Province. An additional helicopter from Poland will commence operations on 7 August.

Turkey - Forest fires update

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 06:16:55 +02:00

Wildfires have been raging along Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean coast over the last week. 8 fatalities have been reported and thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from the affected areas.
Firefighting planes from Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran have deployed in support of ground firefighting operations.
On 1 August, Turkey activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for aerial firefighting capabilities. 1 Canadair plane from Croatia and 2 Canadairs from Spain have been sent in reinforcement. These firefighting aeroplanes are part of rescEU, the European reserve of civil protection assets.