BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 22. The European Union is sending firefighting helicopters, personnel and emergency vehicles to Serbia to help contain major wildfires, including a blaze burning through the Deliblatska Pescara nature reserve in the northeast of the country.
Serbia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on Friday after struggling for weeks to control the wildfire in Deliblatska Pescara, an area of sand dunes and woodland about 80 kilometres from Belgrade. Other major fires are also burning in southwestern Serbia.
Andreas von Beckerath, head of the EU delegation to Serbia, said the bloc stood with the country in protecting lives, livelihoods and the natural heritage of Deliblatska Sands.
According to Luka Causic, head of Serbia’s emergency management department, European assistance will include four Black Hawk firefighting helicopters.
Germany is sending 55 firefighters and 24 vehicles, while Romania will contribute 69 firefighters and 15 vehicles to the operation.
Although Serbia is not an EU member, it can request emergency assistance through the bloc’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
International assistance is already supporting Serbian firefighting operations. A Russian Emergencies Ministry Il-76P firefighting aircraft arrived in Nis on Wednesday to help tackle the Deliblatska Pescara blaze, which has burned thousands of hectares of pine forest since late July.
Causic said conditions had become more stable by Saturday, although strong winds were forecast. Authorities are prioritising the protection of settlements and human lives.
Other significant wildfires remain active in the mountainous Stolovi area in southwestern Serbia.
