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Forest fires: EU continues to mobilise assistance for Greece and other countries in region

European Commission Aug 9, 2021
Forest fires: EU continues to mobilise assistance for Greece and other countries in region

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The EU Civil Protection Mechanism continues to channel support to help combat unprecedented forest fires in Greece and the rest of the Mediterranean. Following requests from Greece, North Macedonia, Albania, Italy, and Turkey, the European Union has now helped mobilize 14 firefighting planes, 3 helicopters, some 1,300 rescuers, and 250 vehicles.

In Greece alone, 9 planes, close to 1,000 firefighters, and 200 vehicles are currently being deployed. The latest offers over the weekend came from France, Germany, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia, who are sending ground firefighting units. They will join forces already operating in the country: ground firefighting units from Cyprus, France, Czechia, and Romania as well as planes from Cyprus, Sweden, France, Croatia, and Spain.

This comes, in addition, to help already deployed last week to help fight forest fires in Italy, Albania, and North Macedonia:

  • Two Canadair firefighting airplanes from France were sent to affected areas in Italy.
  • Two helicopters to support operations in Albania were equally dispatched from Czechia and the Netherlands.
  • Ground forces from Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Austria were deployed to help North Macedonia. On Saturday, Romania sent an additional plane.
  • Ongoing EU-coordinated firefighting operations in Turkey.

Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: “We are mobilizing one of Europe’s biggest ever common firefighting operations as multiple fires affect several countries simultaneously. This shows the need to prioritize crisis response also at the European level. The EU stands in full solidarity with Greece, North Macedonia, Albania, Italy and Turkey, at this difficult time. I am very thankful for all the countries that have offered help for their tangible solidarity. Our thoughts are with all those affected and with the first responders who are risking their lives to battle the fires.”

In addition, the EU’s emergency Copernicus satellite is helping to provide damage assessment maps of the affected areas in North Macedonia and Greece.