EU helicopters join Serbia's wildfire fight: 'We'll stay as long as we're needed'

European Union helicopters are actively engaged in battling the significant wildfire raging in Serbia's Deliblato Sands nature reserve. An N1 news crew captured footage of Romanian, Slovak, and Czech Black Hawk helicopters preparing for and taking off from Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, heading towards the fire zones.

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We normally start, like today, at about eight o'clock. We fly two hours, then we take a break, because we need a break to change the pilots, for the helicopters to refuel, and then we go again. We do three, four such rotations, it depends on the request of the firefighters’ command centre. We are able to do up to twelve drops, and one drop means 3.5 cubic meter of water.

Crews from these EU nations are working diligently, with their workday beginning early each morning. They conduct multiple rotations throughout the day, typically flying for two-hour shifts before refueling, changing pilots, and preparing for the next sortie. Jiri Kubes, head of the Czech firefighting team, explained that they can perform up to twelve water drops per day, with each drop delivering 3.5 cubic meters of water. He described the cooperation with Serbian services as "perfect."

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People on the ground request drops. They put the information to the helicopter, we say: ‘Okay, this is our position, we would like to make some drops.’ And it works.

Kubes noted that Serbia is facing a difficult year with multiple fires, and the international teams are there to provide maximum assistance. He observed that nearly half of the Deliblato Sands has already burned down, and acknowledged reports of other fires in different locations. The crews are receiving crucial information from Serbian pilots, facilitating coordinated efforts.

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We saw that almost half of Deliblato Sands burned down, and this is not only one fire that you have. We also made some drops near Nis, in the south, and we have information that there are two other fires at other locations. We have good cooperation with Serbian pilots, so we have a good source of information.

In addition to the Black Hawks, a specialized Russian Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft continues its operations, having already conducted 22 missions and dropped nearly a million liters of water. The crews, divided into Czech and Romanian/Slovak teams, are committed to their mission. When asked about their departure timeline, their response was resolute: "For as long as we're needed."

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For as long as we’re needed.