Romania Sends Third Firefighter Team to Greece

Romania has deployed its third contingent of firefighters to Greece as of August 30, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU). This team is tasked with tackling the ongoing forest fires in the region.

The firefighters traveled from Ciolpani to Nea Makri in Greece, located in the Attica region approximately 25 kilometers northeast of Athens. They will use equipment that has already been set up by previous Romanian teams. This ensures a smooth continuation of operations.

The equipment at their disposal includes three forest fire engines with capacities ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 liters, a 10,000-liter vehicle, and a 30,000-liter water tanker. The team also has a first-response and command vehicle featuring a drone. A radio vehicle is included. Additionally, they brought a minibus, a container truck, and a utility terrain vehicle to support field operations.

Romania's participation in this mission is part of a European Union pre-positioning program aimed at preventing and mitigating the impact of wildfires in southern Europe. Critical support for affected communities. This initiative, organized by the European Commission's DG ECHO, supports communities that have been severely affected by these fires.

The program runs from August 1 to September 15 and also includes contributions from the Czech Republic, France, and Moldova. Romania has been part of this initiative since 2022, responding to a request from Greek authorities made through the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre in 2026.