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EU is preparing for a new fire season

by AI | 17.May 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The European Union has again assembled a fleet of aircraft and helicopters for firefighting as part of preparations for the fire season. A new Slovenian fleet is also ready for firefighting.

Slovenian airplane for aerial firefighting Air Tractor. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

Brussels/Ljubljana – Ahead of the fire season, the European Commission is strengthening collective preparedness against natural disasters. They have prepared several preventive measures, including the strategic redeployment of several hundred firefighters from EU member states to key locations across the network, and assembling a fleet of airplanes and helicopters for firefighting.

“As Europe prepares for the upcoming forest fire season, the EU is taking significant measures to strengthen firefighting efforts and protect communities by predeploying firefighters and assembling a fleet of firefighting aircraft,” said European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič.

This summer, similar to last year, 556 firefighters from 12 member states will be strategically redeployed to key locations in Europe, such as France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain, to assist local firefighting units.

In addition, the EU has also assembled a special joint fleet of aircraft and helicopters for firefighting for this summer. It includes 28 aircraft and 4 helicopters, stationed in 10 member states.

Slovenia now has its own aerial firefighting unit, equipped with Air Tractor aircraft. According to the General Director of the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Leon Behin, it is operational and will be able to extinguish fires from the air this year with the support of Spanish pilots, the military, and police.

Later this month, two more aircraft will arrive in the country. Slovenia has allocated 20 million euros for the purchase of four aircraft, of which 15 million was obtained from the European Cohesion Fund. (May 14 and 15)