Video: The EU has deployed aircraft to help fight large-scale wildfires in Belgium and Spain
The European Union has deployed additional personnel and equipment to Belgium and Spain to combat large-scale wildfires. Assistance was provided to the countries through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism following their requests.
Aircraft and helicopters have been deployed to help contain the spread of the fires.
Two aircraft from the EU’s rescEU firefighting fleet were dispatched to Belgium from Sweden. They were joined by two helicopters from the Netherlands, two from Norway, and two from Germany.
Nearly 3,000 hectares of a nature park in the Hautes Fagnes, Belgium, have been ravaged by one of the country’s worst wildfires in history.
The fire broke out on August 14 and spread rapidly. My thoughts are with everyone affected, and I wish all those fighting the fire the best of luck… pic.twitter.com/1vqhtd2zUg— Nadia MUGUNGA (@Nadia_MUGUNGA1) August 16, 2026
Heavy equipment is assisting Belgian firefighters in battling the blaze in the Hautes Fagnes region, where more than 3,000 hectares have already been burned.
In Spain, firefighters in the Aragon region are being assisted by 104 French rescue workers with 36 pieces of equipment. There, the area burned has reached nearly 16,000 hectares.
The EU is also using satellite data to support emergency response services. The EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service is conducting satellite mapping of fires in Belgium, Spain, Greece, Germany, Montenegro, Albania, France, Serbia, and Italy.
Belgium’s largest wildfire on record has burned more than 7,400 acres in the High Fens nature reserve and was moving toward the German border on August 16. The blaze, which started on August 14, has been fought by firefighters from Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg. The EU also… pic.twitter.com/eCOsAEcqqc
— TRT World (@trtworld) August 16, 2026
The maps generated help local authorities assess the extent of the fires and coordinate their response.
According to the European Commission, the 2026 wildfire season is already exceptionally severe. As of the end of July, the area burned in Europe was two and a half times larger than usual.
The European Commission reported this on Monday, August 17.
In Greece, tourists are being evacuated due to large-scale fires.
Since the beginning of 2026, Greek law enforcement has detained 281 people in connection with the wildfires. Some of the fires are believed to have been caused by arson or careless handling of fire.
In Indonesia, nearly 50,000 people are fighting large-scale forest fires.
