- by croatiaweek
- July 26, 2026
-
in
News
(Photo: HRZ)
BORDEAUX, France, 26 July 2026 – Croatian Air Force firefighting crews have been deployed to France to assist with efforts to contain major wildfires in the country’s southwest.
Members of the 855th Firefighting Squadron are currently operating in the Biscarrosse area near Bordeaux, where large-scale fires remain active.
The Croatian crews arrived in France on Friday, 24 July, as part of a RescEU mission providing international assistance to France. On their first day, they were deployed to the Salernes area before being transferred to the Bordeaux region, where operations began around Biscarrosse.
During their first two days of operations in France, Croatian pilots completed 72 flights, recording 13 hours and 30 minutes of flight time and dropping a total of 402 tonnes of water on the fire-affected areas.
(Photo: HRZ)
Major Ante Vranjić, a pilot with the 855th Firefighting Squadron, said the situation remained complex, with a large area affected by the fires.
“This is our third day of the RescEU mission to support France. The situation at the fire fronts remains very complex and the burned area is extremely large, but together with our French colleagues we are making every effort to bring the fires under control,” Vranjić said.
He added that the mission was focused on protecting lives, property and the natural environment.
The Croatian crews are working alongside French firefighters and other international forces involved in the response.
(Photo: HRZ)
“It is a great honour for us to represent the Republic of Croatia and to help our French friends, together with other international forces, when assistance is needed most,” Vranjić said.
(Photo: HRZ)
French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Croatia for its help.
“Thank you Croatia,” Macron wrote in Croatian on the social network X, alongside the Croatian and European flags.
Hvala Hrvatska 🇭🇷🇪🇺 https://t.co/DUsQlryDEf
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 26, 2026
