Solidarity mission: Moldovan firefighters in Greece join first firefighting operation
Moldovan firefighters, using four specialized vehicles, responded to a forest fire in Greece. This marked their first mission within the MD-GFFF-V module, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergencies.
On Thursday, July 17, they collaborated effectively with their Greek counterparts to combat a fire that impacted a 600-hectare forest area near the city of Patras.
According to the General Inspectorate for Emergencies, despite challenging conditions, the fire was brought under control and did not spread further.
On Monday, July 14, a team from the Moldovan fire brigade, consisting of 22 personnel and 6 specialized technical units, was deployed to Greece to assist the Greek authorities in combating forest fires in the Patras region of Achaia County. This mission is carried out under the auspices of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism and represents a significant gesture of solidarity from the Republic of Moldova towards its European partners.
Upon their arrival, the Moldovan rescuers participated in two days of theoretical and practical training led by Greek officers. The training focused on intervention techniques for forest fires, the exchange of best practices, and the enhancement of operational cooperation.
This year marks the third time that the specialized fire brigade from IGSU has joined efforts to extinguish forest fires in Greece, and it is the second time it has participated as a full member of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
In 2024, as part of the program, the IGSU team responded to 8 major fire incidents, conducted 19 patrol missions in high-risk areas, and helped save 3 lives.
