Serbia and Croatia send fire crews to assist France's wildfire battle

Serbia firefighters Croatia water‑bombers France wildfires EU Civil Protection Vélaux

Serbia dispatched a team of 37 firefighters – 34 from the emergency sector and three medical staff – together with 15 vehicles (13 fire trucks, one ATV and one ambulance) to the town of Vélaux (Velo) in southern France. The deployment, coordinated through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, follows earlier Serbian assistance to Spain, where 40 responders and a Super Puma helicopter were sent. Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić emphasized the humanitarian and diplomatic significance of the mission.

Croatia contributed to the French firefighting effort by sending Canadair CL‑415 water‑bombing aircraft. The Croatian operation, part of the EU RescEU civil‑protection programme, completed 1,198 flight sorties and dropped roughly 1,110 tonnes of water on the large forest fires east of Marseille, near Pontevès. Both nations' aid underscores a coordinated European response to the severe wildfires raging in southern France.

Entities

Andrija Nikolić · Croatian Air Force (855th Firefighting Squadron) · Croatian Ministry of Defense · Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) · EU Civil Protection Mechanism · European Union Civil Protection Mechanism · Government of Montenegro · Government of the United States · Ivica Dačić · Marseille, France · Ministry of Internal Affairs (Serbia) · Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Serbia previously sent 40 firefighters and a Super Puma helicopter to assist in Spain’s Castilla‑León region. www.infokg.rs · tvzonaplus.rs · www.kurir.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] Both the Serbian and Croatian missions are coordinated through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. www.infokg.rs · www.novilist.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] The Serbian team is operating in the town of Vélaux (Velo) in southern France. www.infokg.rs · www.kurir.rs
[● 3 SOURCES] The Serbian team arrived with 15 vehicles, including 13 fire trucks, an ATV and an ambulance. www.infokg.rs · tvzonaplus.rs · www.kurir.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] The Croatian operation began on 24 July and is part of the EU RescEU civil‑protection programme. www.novilist.hr
[● 5 SOURCES] Serbia sent 37 firefighters (34 emergency sector members and 3 medical staff) to Vélaux, France, to fight large forest fires. www.infokg.rs · tvzonaplus.rs · 24sata.info · www.kurir.rs · mondo.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] Large forest fires are affecting southern France and the area east of Marseille near Pontevès. www.novilist.hr · www.tportal.hr
[DISPUTED] Croatia deployed Canadair CL‑415 water‑bombing aircraft to France, completing 1,198 flight sorties and dropping about 1,110 tonnes of water. www.novilist.hr · www.tportal.hr
[● 5 SOURCES] Serbia's deployment to France is coordinated through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. www.infokg.rs · tvzonaplus.rs · 24sata.info · www.kurir.rs · mondo.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] The Croatian operation is part of the EU RescEU civil‑protection programme. www.novilist.hr · www.tportal.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The Serbian team includes 15 vehicles: 13 fire trucks, one ATV and one ambulance. www.infokg.rs · tvzonaplus.rs · 24sata.info
[● 5 SOURCES] Serbia previously sent 40 firefighters and a Super Puma helicopter to assist Spain. www.infokg.rs · tvzonaplus.rs · 24sata.info · www.kurir.rs · mondo.rs