The European Commission has stepped up its emergency response as wildfires in Portugal and France continue to spread, deploying firefighters, aircraft and other resources through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
Both countries requested European assistance after multiple large fires burned simultaneously across thousands of hectares.
The coordinated response has already delivered personnel and aerial firefighting support to help national authorities contain the blazes and protect affected communities.
The latest deployments are part of the EU’s largest-ever seasonal wildfire preparedness effort, with hundreds of firefighters and a fleet of aircraft strategically positioned across southern Europe to improve response times during the peak fire season.
Aircraft and firefighters sent to affected areas
France activated the UCPM on 5 July after several major fires broke out. In response, the European Commission mobilised four rescEU firefighting aircraft from Sweden and Cyprus, with the planes scheduled to reinforce operations in the affected regions.
Portugal requested assistance two days earlier, on 3 July. Within hours, Spain dispatched 118 firefighters supported by 45 emergency vehicles. In addition, three rescEU firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain were deployed to strengthen aerial firefighting operations.
The UCPM allows participating countries to request operational assistance when national resources become overstretched. The rescEU reserve complements this system by providing strategic emergency assets that can be deployed rapidly during large-scale disasters.
Commenting on the response, Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said: “As Portugal and France face an extreme wildfire threat during this severe heatwave, every minute matters. I am proud to see the EU civil protection mechanism once again delivering swift support when it is needed most.
“Firefighting aircraft, ground teams and vehicles from Sweden, Cyprus, Italy, and Spain are already helping emergency crews on the ground. In the face of these devastating fires, Europe stands together. We are united in our determination to protect lives, communities, livelihoods and our natural environment.”
Record wildfire preparedness across Europe
Ahead of this year’s fire season, the European Commission significantly expanded its wildfire response capacity.
A total of 777 firefighters from 14 European countries have been deployed, or are preparing for deployment, to high-risk locations in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. Their role is to provide immediate reinforcement when severe fires emerge.
The EU has also positioned 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters within its shared emergency fleet, ensuring additional aerial support can be mobilised quickly wherever major fires threaten lives, infrastructure or ecosystems.
Long-term strategy focuses on growing climate risks
The strengthened emergency response comes as Europe faces increasingly severe wildfire seasons linked to changing climate conditions.
In March 2026, the European Commission introduced a new integrated wildfire risk management approach aimed at improving prevention, preparedness, emergency response and post-fire recovery across Member States.
By combining pre-positioned resources with coordinated cross-border support, the Commission aims to strengthen Europe’s resilience as wildfires in Portugal and France, along with other regions, place growing pressure on emergency services during increasingly intense fire seasons.
