Brussels, 18 August 2022 (TDI): To combat forest fires, the European Union (EU) has mobilized approximately 370 first responders from around Europe. 29 aircraft and eight helicopters have been deployed across Europe during the last two months.
Almost 370 first responders, 29 aircraft and 8 helicopters have been mobilised across 🇪🇺 to fight fires.
The #EUCivPro Mechanism has been activated 9 times, with an unprecedented degree of solidarity shown by EU countries.
We continue to monitor the situation around the clock.
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) August 18, 2022
The deployment is in response to requests for help made through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Moreover, 369 firefighters who were already on the scene as well as more than 105 vehicles joined them.
Janez Lenarčič, the EU Crisis Management Commissioner stated that “We are facing a difficult summer in Europe, with so far for this year more than 700,000 hectares burned, the highest value at this time of year since 2006.
So far, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated nine times by five countries, with an unprecedented degree of solidarity shown by the EU Member States.
We will continue to monitor the situation 24 hours a day through our Emergency Response Coordination Centre in Brussels and mobilize the necessary assistance.”
Additionally, the EU has launched the Copernicus satellite emergency mapping service for forest fires. Around 150 firefighters from Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, France, Finland, and Norway were sent to Greece.
The response has been 46 times by 15 different nations in the months of July and August to assist the local firefighters of the country.
It is noteworthy that in order to request assistance in putting out forest fires, EU Member States can activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
This is done by creating a reserve that is called upon when no other national resources are available, RescEU improves the EU’s capacity to respond to civil protection emergencies.
