Croatian Air Force pilots assist in battling Bordeaux wildfires
Members of Croatia’s 855th Firefighting Squadron were deployed to southwestern France on 24 July 2026 under the EU RescEU mission. After an initial assignment in the Salernes area, they were transferred to the Biscarrosse region near Bordeaux, where large forest fires continue to spread.
During the first two days of the operation the Croatian crews completed 72 flights, logging 13 hours 30 minutes of flight time and dropping roughly 402 tonnes of water on the fire‑affected zones. French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Croatia on the social platform X, writing “Thank you Croatia.”
The wildfires have forced the evacuation of about 250 000 people and have scorched roughly 98 000 hectares—the largest area burned in France’s recorded history. Local officials, including Bordeaux mayor Thomas Cazenave, warned that the flames were as close as 15 km from the city’s perimeter. Pilot Ante Vranjić emphasised the mission’s goal of protecting lives, property and the natural environment while working alongside French firefighters and other international forces.
Entities: 855th Firefighting Squadron · Ante Vranjić · Bordeaux · Croatian Ministry of Defence · Emmanuel Macron
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] About 98 000 hectares of forest have burned, the largest area recorded in France’s history. (9460f3b9-e691-4e9b-a996-432eae1d68f0, e89a5591-5753-4020-8cdf-762d488df6cc)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Croatian Air Force pilots from the 855th Firefighting Squadron were deployed to France on 24 July 2026 under the RescEU mission. (d0702888-45e2-47c2-8db4-912cfcf6bf12, 8d1008b5-e55b-4076-8f67-c47f0319dcc5, 1fb7f031-e077-45da-a840-e844bac6b524)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Pilot Ante Vranjić said the mission’s purpose is to protect lives, property and the environment. (d0702888-45e2-47c2-8db4-912cfcf6bf12, 1fb7f031-e077-45da-a840-e844bac6b524, c1fc89af-1631-4c39-9dec-9a55f6250cfe)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Bordeaux mayor Thomas Cazenave warned the fire was about 15 km from the city’s entrance. (d0702888-45e2-47c2-8db4-912cfcf6bf12)
- [● 4 SOURCES] In the first two days the Croatian crews completed 72 flights, 13 hours 30 minutes of flight time and dropped about 402 tonnes of water. (d0702888-45e2-47c2-8db4-912cfcf6bf12, 8d1008b5-e55b-4076-8f67-c47f0319dcc5, e89a5591-5753-4020-8cdf-762d488df6cc, 1fb7f0)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The wildfires in southwest France have forced the evacuation of roughly 250 000 people. (9460f3b9-e691-4e9b-a996-432eae1d68f0, e89a5591-5753-4020-8cdf-762d488df6cc)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The pilots first operated in the Salernes area before moving to Biscarrosse near Bordeaux. (d0702888-45e2-47c2-8db4-912cfcf6bf12, 1fb7f031-e077-45da-a840-e844bac6b524)
- [● 3 SOURCES] French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Croatia for its assistance on the social network X. (9460f3b9-e691-4e9b-a996-432eae1d68f0, e89a5591-5753-4020-8cdf-762d488df6cc, 1fb7f031-e077-45da-a840-e844bac6b524)