Europe's wildfire fight hampered by lack of firefighting planes

Europe is grappling with a critical shortage of firefighting aircraft, a deficiency that is expected to persist for several years until new models become available. The current "Super Scooper" planes are aging, and their successor, the DHC-515, is still awaiting certification.

This scarcity comes as southern Europe battles some of its most extreme wildfires on record. Regions around Madrid, as well as the provinces of Ávila and Valencia, are experiencing devastating blazes that have led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. In southwestern France, near Bordeaux, large fires threaten several communities, also prompting mass evacuations.

Italy is also affected, with fires burning in Calabria and Sicily due to dry conditions and suspected arson. Adding to the challenges, exploding World War II-era ordnance complicated firefighting efforts in northern Germany. The situation highlights a severe vulnerability in Europe's capacity to combat increasingly intense wildfires.