A combined team of Ukrainian rescue workers arrived in the Gironde department to help tackle a large-scale forest fire. Following a coordination meeting at the SDIS 33 Departmental Fire and Rescue Service, the team travelled to the disaster area, carried out a reconnaissance of the fire hotspots and assessed the operational situation.
Briefly about the main points
- The area affected by the fire in Gironde was around 42,000 hectares.
- The perimeter of the fire stretched for 240 kilometres.
- The Ukrainian team carried out a reconnaissance of the fire sites.
- Rescue workers will be working in the most challenging areas.
- Ukraine has the largest international team of all the participating countries.
Work on designated sections
At SDIS 33 the Ukrainian team met with the service’s management and representatives of the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). Deputy Head of Operations at SDIS 33 Aurélien Pétit reported that the fire had engulfed around 42,000 hectares, and that the perimeter of the blaze stretched for 240 kilometres.
The French side noted that Ukrainian specialists will be involved in the work on the most challenging sections. Following the meeting, the team inspected the specific locations where they would begin extinguishing and containing the fire.
The international operation is ongoing
As of 3 August, the fire is being contained within the perimeter, although active hotspots remain within the burnt-out area. This means that the operation is focused not only on containing the fire front, but also on extinguishing the fire within the affected area and preventing it from reigniting.
Ukraine is represented by the largest international team among the countries involved in fighting the fire. The team is operating under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, of which Ukraine became a full member in 2023.
The European response to the fires in France combines ground units, rescEU aircraft, Copernicus satellite mapping and coordination by the ERCC. The European Commission reported that seven aircraft and four helicopters from several European countries had been mobilised for France.
Evacuation of residents
The scale of the fire led to a large-scale evacuation. On 27 July, the French Ministry of the Interior reported that 220,000 people had been evacuated, whilst on 3 August, the AP put the figure at 224,000 people who had been forced to leave their homes. Some residents were still unable to return at that time.
