The European Union is preparing for an increased risk of forest fires during the coming summer months. In preventive measures, it has created teams of firefighters and aviation units in the most endangered areas of Member States, TASR reports.
During July and August, nearly 650 firefighters from 14 EU countries will be placed in strategic locations in France, Greece, Portugal and Spain, where the local rescue units will strengthen.
Aircraft units in alert
At the same time, 22 firefighters and four helicopters in ten EU Member States – namely in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Cyprus will be on the standby. Slovakia will have one helicopter for fast intervention if necessary.
These capacities are coordinated and co -financed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and complement national troops. The aim is to reduce the risks associated with fires and to ensure a faster and more efficient reaction in the event of a crisis.
Additional teams ready
In addition, the EU, in close cooperation with Member States through the mechanism, is ready to mobilize another 19 ground firefighting teams, each approximately 30-member. There will also be one advisory and evaluation team to help coordinate the interventions and evaluation of the situation in the field.
“Unfortunately, extreme heat and fires in Europe have become a new normal. safer, ”said the Commissioner for Readiness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbibová.
The EU Coordination Center for Responses to Emergency Situations with continuous operation will also be set up a specialized support team for forest fires that will monitor risks and analyze scientific data.
