According to the European Commission, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has already been activated 16 times during the current fire season – more often than in the entire 2024 season. The aim is to improve the prevention, preparedness, and management of natural and man-made disasters.

Current examples from the German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia show what international cooperation looks like in practice. Together, they are sending special forces to Spain to fight vegetation fires. Spain had requested assistance in combating the current forest fires with vehicles (Ground Forest Firefighting using vehicles = GFFF-V modules) for operations in various locations.

In response, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) announced via the Joint Reporting and Situation Center (GMLZ) that its GFFF-V module (Ground Forest Firefighting using Vehicles) was available. Based on existing agreements, Lower Saxony is supporting the module from NRW with two CCFM 3000 (Camion citerne feux de forêts de classe M – Category M forest fire tanker) tank firefighting vehicles and a command vehicle (KdoW).

Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens said of the operation: “The current images from the affected areas in Spain are shocking. The emergency services on the ground are doing an incredible job. It goes without saying that we are supporting Spain in this situation with our firefighters, who are specially trained for such operations, and the appropriate vehicles.”

Further examples of international assistance are currently being provided by Austria and Switzerland, for example, which have sent units to Montenegro.

Meanwhile, vegetation fire expert Dr. Ulrich Cimolino points out that, compared to the past, the forest fire season has now expanded to cover almost the entire year. “For some time now, fire departments have been striving to adapt to the changed operational scenarios with better tactics and technology and with appropriate training,” he emphasizes. Cimolino, who has been active in the fire service for more than 40 years, has headed the Forest Fire Working Group of the German Fire Service Association since 2019 and is a member of the Forest Fire Commission of the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF).

“Forest and vegetation fires will be a key topic at INTERSCHUTZ 2026,” says Cimolino. “The world's leading trade fair will become a major platform for the international exchange of experience.”

Exhibition Topic Civil Protection