The European Union expands wildfire response with 24/7 team and multinational deployments
Over 650 firefighters, aircraft, and support teams from fourteen countries will bolster efforts to combat forest fires across Europe this summer.
The European Union has announced an expanded plan to tackle the growing threat of forest fires across the continent, unveiling a new round-the-clock wildfire support team. This initiative brings together multinational firefighters who will continuously work at the Emergency Response Coordination Center in Brussels to monitor and coordinate responses to fire threats more effectively.
Throughout July and August, the EU will deploy 650 firefighters from fourteen countries to areas most at risk of fires, reinforcing local first responders during the most dangerous periods of the season. In addition, ten member states have prepared a fleet of 22 firefighting aircraft and four helicopters, ready to be dispatched at a moment’s notice to regions facing active wildfires.
Supporting this frontline effort, nineteen additional teams of thirty people each, alongside a team of consultants, are standing by to respond rapidly to emergencies. The Civil Protection Mechanism remains central to these actions, promoting stronger international collaboration to prevent disasters and improve interventions. The effort comes after forest fires claimed 500,000 hectares of EU woodlands in 2023, pushing the bloc to adopt these comprehensive measures to address mounting climate-related risks.
