EU Deploys Record Number of Firefighters and Aircraft for Wildfire Season

The European Union will deploy its highest number of firefighters, aircraft, and emergency response experts this summer to ensure faster and more effective responses to wildfires, which are becoming increasingly frequent and destructive due to climate change.

In high-risk areas across six countries in Southern Europe, 777 firefighters will be deployed, while 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters from the EU fleet will be available to countries facing increased fire risk. In addition, 21 certified emergency response teams are ready for interventions across Europe.

According to the European Commission, throughout the wildfire season the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) will monitor risks and coordinate the deployment of resources based on meteorological and scientific analyses. Support will also be provided by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and EU satellite services, including Copernicus.

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Capacity will be further strengthened with the opening of a new regional firefighting base in Cyprus, which will be able to host six aircraft and serve as a training centre for civil protection experts.

Strengthening wildfire prevention and response capacity is becoming increasingly important as climate change drives more frequent and intense disasters. In 2025 alone, wildfires across the European Union burned a record one million hectares of land, an area roughly equivalent to half the territory of Slovenia.

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