EC: EU deploying largest-ever wildfire response for summer 2026
With wildfire risks rising across Europe, the European Commission (EC) is helping finance and coordinate the deployment of a record number of firefighters, aircraft and emergency experts under the Civil Protection Mechanism, the EC said on June 2.
A total of 777 firefighters from 14 European countries will be strategically pre-positioned in high-risk areas across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal.
“This is the highest level of participation since the pre-positioning programme’s launch in 2022. In parallel, 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters from the EU fleet are ready to support countries under pressure,” the EC said.
As wildfire seasons become longer, earlier and more destructive, the Commission is making sure additional firefighters, aircraft and expertise are ready to back up national services when and where the risk is highest, the statement said.
This response is backed by round-the-clock coordination and support, the EC said.
Throughout the wildfire season, experts at the EU’s 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre will track risks and support deployments using meteorological and scientific analysis.
The Centre will reinforce its monitoring with additional wildfire experts from EU member states and participating countries, together with specialists from the Commission’s partnerships with scientific institutions.
The European Forest Fire Information System will provide continuous wildfire risk forecasts, while EU satellite services like Copernicus will deliver emergency mapping and geospatial analysis to support decision-making on the ground.
In addition, the EU will also launch in 2026 a new European regional firefighting station in Cyprus to strengthen wildfire preparedness and response capacities, across Europe and the South Mediterranean region.
The Cyprus regional firefighting station will accommodate the pre-positioning of six aircraft and will also host trainings and exercises for civil protection practitioners with the aim of supporting exchange of knowledge and best practices.
Overview of the 2026 summer fleet supported by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
- Croatia: Two medium amphibious aircraft.
- Cyprus: Two light aircraft (in addition to four light aircraft funded by other EU instruments).
- Czechia: Two helicopters.
- France: Four medium amphibious aircraft and one helicopter.
- Greece: Four medium amphibious aircraft.
- Italy: Two medium amphibious aircraft.
- North Macedonia: Two light aircraft.
- Portugal: Two light aircraft.
- Romania: One helicopter.
- Slovakia: One helicopter.
- Spain: Two medium amphibious aircraft.
- Sweden: Two light aircraft.
