EU to deploy record firefighters, aircraft against summer forest fires

The European Union announced it will deploy a record number of firefighters and aircraft this summer to combat forest fires in regions highly vulnerable to blazes. This initiative aims to bolster local emergency services facing an increasingly challenging fire season.

A total of 777 firefighters from 14 member states will be stationed in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. They will be supported by 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters from the EU's fleet, ready to respond to emergencies across the continent.

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The forest fire season is starting earlier, lasting longer, and has a greater impact.

"The forest fire season is starting earlier, lasting longer, and has a greater impact," stated Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management. She noted that over one million hectares burned in Europe last summer alone. This deployment underscores the growing threat posed by wildfires, exacerbated by record heatwaves across Europe in recent weeks.

Researchers warn that the entire world could face exceptionally strong forest fires this year, driven by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon. Europe, identified as the fastest-warming continent, is particularly exposed to these escalating risks.

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Last summer, more than one million hectares burned in Europe.