Serbia accepts EU helicopters to combat month-long wildfires

Serbia has accepted an offer of four Blackhawk helicopters from the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism to aid in the ongoing battle against wildfires. The country's firefighters have been engaged in a month-long struggle against blazes, particularly a persistent fire in the Deliblato Sands nature reserve.

According to the head of the Emergency Sector of the Internal Affairs Ministry, Predrag Marić, the Russian Il-76 firefighting airplane has been a crucial asset. While the EU initially proposed smaller firefighting planes, Serbia also reached out to Russia for assistance. The European Commission, however, denied claims that it provided a satellite to track fires across the country, despite assertions from Marić's superior, Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic.

The newly accepted EU Blackhawk helicopters will be primarily deployed to combat the Deliblatsko Sands fire. This blaze has already devastated thousands of hectares of forest and farmland, forcing the evacuation of numerous homes in surrounding villages. Strong winds have exacerbated the situation, fanning the flames and creating significant smoke. This summer's heatwaves have been a major contributing factor to the spread of wildfires across Serbia, impacting various regions including a landfill outside Kragujevac and coal storage at the Kolubara mining basin.

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A computer should not make decisions on its own that have (such) major consequences.