Estonian Firefighters Deploy to Sardinia to Fight Forest Fires

A 20‑person Estonian wildfire‑suppression team is set to depart for Sardinia on the early morning of 31 July, establishing a base at Monte Pisanus on the island’s north coast. Team leader Kaarel Langemets said the recent week has been exceptionally demanding, with large, complex forest fires raging across southern Sardinia amid forecast temperatures near 40 °C.

The Estonian crew will work alongside an existing French firefighting unit, providing ground resources and supplementing a helicopter team. The mission, coordinated through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, is scheduled to conclude in the early hours of 16 August. Officials highlighted that increasing heat has amplified fire spread in southern Europe, prompting mutual‑aid requests under the EU system.

This deployment illustrates cross‑border cooperation to address the growing risk of summer wildfires in the Mediterranean region.