EU deploys rescEU firefighting aircraft

The 2022 rescEU firefighting fleet includes 12 fixed-wing aircraft and one helicopter provided by six EU member states; Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden each provided two planes. Greece supplied the helicopter.

The fleet is strategically positioned across EU member states, which operate and maintain the aircraft. The rescEU initiative will also be deploying over 200 firefighters and various technical equipment from Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Romania and Norway to Greece throughout the wildfire season, due to that country’s higher than average risk of wildfires.

Current forecasts predict an above-average risk of forest fires due to extended drought conditions across the Mediterranean and an ongoing heatwave which has affected regions as far north as Germany – exacerbated by concerns about the high cost of aircraft fuel.

It follows what European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič described as ‘the second worst forest fire season on record in the EU’ last year.

“As of today, the entire EU's rescEU fleet of 13 firefighting aircraft is operational as to ensure a layer of additional protection for lives, livelihoods and the environment,” said Lenarčič. “With this fleet in place, the EU boosts the continent's preparedness to face forest fires.”