Solidarity is at work through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to assist Portugal, France and Albania, which have requested help to fight forest fires.
The European Commission announced on Friday 15 July the deployment of resources through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).
Thus, four water bombers from Spain and Italy have been operating in Portugal since 13 July. Two aircraft located in Greece from the RescEU equipment pool have been mobilised for France and were due to arrive in the south-west of the country on Friday.
Two more fire-fighting aircraft from the Greek fleet were deployed to Albania on 14 and 15 July.
In addition, Croatia, Spain and Portugal received satellite images from the Copernicus programme to locate and get a precise idea of the damage, near the town of Zaton in Croatia, the Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia natural park in Spain, and in the pine forests of the municipality of Ourém in Portugal.
It should be recalled that water bomber aircraft from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism equipment pool are positioned in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden to assist countries in need throughout the forest fire season upon request (see EUROPE 12972/21). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)