In brief
Two CL-415 aircraft and one C-27J transport departed Greece on 24 July, stopping at Aktio and Sardinia, and were expected at Torrejón air base on 25 July afternoon.
4 aircraft sent to Spain and 5 aircraft plus 2 helicopters deployed in France on 25 July, supported by Copernicus emergency mapping.
At least 141,000 people evacuated since Wednesday night in Gironde and Landes, with 3,500 housed at Bordeaux exhibition centre.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the situation complex and said saving lives was the priority.
Ursula von der Leyen said Europe stands by France and Spain, praising firefighters and announcing the rescEU deployment.
- 25 July: Refueling in SardiniaAfter departing Aktio, they stop in Sardinia for fuel
- 25 July: Flight to SpainAircraft continue flight towards Madrid
- 25 July afternoon: Arrival at TorrejónPlanes expected at Torrejón air base to join firefighting
Greek assistance to Spain
Greece sent two Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft of the 113 Combat Wing to Spain on 25 July 2026, along with a C-27J transport plane of the 112 Combat Wing carrying personnel and equipment. The mission was activated through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) following a Spanish request to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre. The aircraft originally departed Thessaloniki on 24 July but made an unscheduled stop at Aktio due to adverse weather. On 25 July they refuelled in Sardinia before continuing to Spain, with arrival at Torrejón air base expected in the afternoon.
“Seeing what is happening on the other side of Europe, with the unprecedented fires in Spain and France, it highlights once again how important our common initiative is to develop a stronger civil protection mechanism at European level. Greece already contributes two firefighting aircraft to the effort of our Spanish friends to limit the large fires near Madrid.”
EU mobilises rescEU assets
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the rescEU fleet had deployed 5 aircraft and 2 helicopters in France, and that 4 aircraft are arriving in Spain on 25 July. The Copernicus emergency management service is providing real-time mapping to support firefighting operations.
“Europe stands by France and Spain amid the devastating fires affecting them. 5 aircraft and 2 helicopters from the rescEU fleet have now been deployed in France. Also, 4 aircraft are arriving today in Spain. The Copernicus programme is also providing emergency maps to support operations in both countries. My thoughts are with the firefighters bravely battling the flames and with all those forced to leave their homes.”
- France (aircraft)
- 5
- France (helicopters)
- 2
- Spain (aircraft)
- 4
Data from the article text
Unprecedented fires in southwestern France
In the Gironde and Landes regions of southwestern France, wildfires of unprecedented scale have forced the evacuation of at least 141,000 people since Wednesday night, according to local authorities. The fires are advancing toward Bordeaux, prompting a full evacuation of the tourist-heavy Cap Ferret peninsula both by road and sea. About 3,500 evacuees are being sheltered at the Bordeaux exhibition park, which was converted into a reception centre. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered the immediate deployment of a military A400M transport aircraft fitted with a 20-tonne retardant-dropping system, equivalent to two Dash aircraft, accelerating a programme originally planned for the end of July.
Spanish front and government response
In Spain, firefighters are battling large fronts in Ávila and the Madrid region. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, after visiting a reception centre, described the situation as complex and stressed that the priority was saving lives. Weather conditions may become more favourable for firefighting efforts, but the blazes remain severe. The Greek aircraft will join those operations once they land at Torrejón.