EU deploys 323 firefighters to Greece ahead of wildfire season
In a major show of solidarity and preventive action, the European Union will preposition 323 firefighters from across Europe in Greece during the 2025 wildfire season, as part of a wider EU strategy to tackle increasing climate-related emergencies.
The move is part of a broader EU Civil Protection Mechanism plan, which this year includes over 640 firefighters from 14 countries, 22 airplanes, and 4 helicopters deployed to wildfire-prone countries including France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. Greece alone will receive half of all EU firefighters — the highest share — from July 1 to September 15.
Speaking at a joint EU–Greek technical briefing, EU Civil Protection official Zacharias Giakoumis emphasized the three-pillar strategy: aerial resources, firefighter prepositioning, and technical expertise. Greece will also benefit from four new amphibious firefighting aircraft and will be the first to receive one of the newly commissioned Canadair planes in 2028.
Deputy Fire Department Chief Vassilis Bikas highlighted the value of Greece as a wildfire training hub, calling it “an open university for forest firefighting,” where European personnel learn from Greek experience in managing large-scale fires.
The deployment includes Bulgarian, Austrian, Moldovan, Czech, Romanian, and French teams. Notably, Greece will also send its own wildfire response unit to Corsica, continuing a reciprocal cooperation with France.
Since 2016, Greece has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism 13 times for assistance but has responded 54 times to other member states’ calls, underscoring its active role in regional climate crisis response.
As the Mediterranean braces for another intense summer, this unprecedented EU collaboration reflects growing concern — and shared responsibility — for forest fire prevention and climate resilience.
