Many forest fires across Europe respond to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism that has already been activated 16 times during the current firefighting period, as European countries face a heat wave accompanied by a large number of catastrophic fires across the continent.
The number of forest fires for 2025 is already equal to the total activations of the mechanism throughout the 2024 firefighting period, is added.
According to the previous week, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EU) to help these countries face forest fires, many of which were raging in Europe.
Spain first activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time due to forest fires. The European Commission quickly mobilized two aircraft from the Resceu fleet, which were parked in France and are expected to start operating today.
Greece activated the mechanism on August 12th. The mechanism has responded and are now expected to be sent two Swedish helicopters from the Resceu fleet, which are currently in Bulgaria. Prepared firefighters from the Czech Republic, Moldova and Romania also participated in efforts to extinguish fires, it is reported.
In Bulgaria, six countries – the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Hungary, Romania and Sweden – mobilized aircraft through the mechanism, including Resceu fleet helicopters parked in Sweden.
In Albania, the Commission mobilized an aerial means of the Resceu fleet from Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In Montenegro, the Commission mobilized a resceu parked in the Czech Republic, Croatia and Italy. Serbia, Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina also used airlines in the context of bilateral bids, while Austria offered terrestrial fire groups.
The EU civil protection mechanism has already been activated 16 times during the current firefighting period, as European countries face a heat wave accompanied by a large number of devastating fires across the continent. The number of forest fire -firing mechanism for 2025 is already equal to the total activations of the mechanism throughout the 2024 firefighting period. Copernicus was also activated for fires in Greece, Spain and Bulgaria, the announcement concludes.
Source: KYPE