The European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism sent helicopters and firefighters to help Serbia fight a massive wildfire in a nature reserve in the northeast of the country, the head of the European Union mission to Belgrade said.
Serbia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism after struggling for weeks with a wildfire in Deliblatska Pescara, a unique landscape of dunes and woods about 80 km (50 miles) from Belgrade, as well as other blazes in the southwest.
“We stand with Serbia in protecting lives, livelihoods and the unique natural heritage of Deliblatska Sands,” Andreas Beckerath, Head of the EU mission to Belgrade, wrote on X.
Luka Causic, head of Serbia’s Department for Emergencies, said European aid includes four Black Hawk firefighting helicopters from Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It also includes 55 firefighters and 24 vehicles from Germany, and 69 firefighters and 15 vehicles from Romania.
One helicopter each from Romania and Slovakia joined firefighting efforts on Saturday (22 August), while two Czech helicopters are due to begin operations Sunday, Serbia’s Interior Ministry said.
Romanian firefighters and vehicles have also arrived in Bela Crkva, near the fire. A German team is expected to arrive on 24 August, it said.
Serbia is not an EU member but can access emergency assistance through the bloc’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
This summer, Belgrade sent a firefighting helicopter and emergency response team to Spain to help combat wildfires after repeated blazes across Europe strained EU resources.
A Russian Emergencies Ministry IL-76P firefighting plane landed in the southern Serbian city of Nis on Wednesday to tackle the Deliblatska Pescara wildfire, which has destroyed thousands of hectares of pine forest since late July.
Causic said the situation was more stable on Saturday, but strong winds were expected, with protecting settlements and human lives remaining the priority.
Other major wildfires were also active in the rugged Stolovi mountain range in southwestern Serbia.
In neighbouring North Macedonia, a major wildfire was raging in the municipality of Strumica, south of Skopje. According to media reports, at least one house caught fire in the village of Sofilar.
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