EU supports fire fighting efforts across Europe amid increasing forest fires due to climate change, emphasizing prevention.
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The European Union supports firefighting efforts with twenty-four aircraft and four helicopters across Europe, alongside a specialized support corps of 650 people assisting vulnerable southern regions during July and August. Despite some rainfall this summer, events like evacuations in Crete and wildfires in Catalonia confirm the arrival of the European summer fire season, which is increasing due to climate change. Over the last eight years (2021-2024), forest fires across Europe have burned an area equivalent to Moravia. Experiences from record years, such as 2023 and 2022 in Czechia, have prompted more rigorous preparations across EU member states, with a strong focus on prevention, especially in Mediterranean countries. Measures include creating firebreaks, clearing undergrowth, planting less flammable trees, establishing fire watch points, and running public awareness campaigns regarding both prevention and response. Financial commitment to prevention is also increasing; for instance, Portugal raised its budget allocation for fire prevention from twenty to sixty-one percent between 2017 and 2022, while Galicia in Spain dedicates most of its wildfire budget to prevention since 2018. Many countries are investing in modern firefighting technology, updating infrastructure, and conducting joint exercises. The EU facilitates co-financing for prevention through common funds, and it supports the operational capacity with the aforementioned aircraft and corps. However, concerns remain regarding whether current measures are adequate given that major wildfires have nearly doubled since the 1980s, and the European Court of Auditors notes that resources are not always used effectively, citing examples of poorly allocated budgets or outdated needs assessments in some regions. Nevertheless, various countries show positive results; Lithuania has improved monitoring and built new forest fire roads, Greece mandated landowners to clear flammable materials, Austria held specialized high-altitude fire drills, France enhanced coordination and placed its reserve force on alert, and the Czech Republic focused on specific training and water supply system checks, while also improving cross-border communication and modernizing equipment.
