Key Developments
On 27 July 2026, the European Commission said the EU had sent aircraft, firefighters and Copernicus mapping support to France and Spain, while the Bundeswehr said Germany deployed CH-53 helicopters near Bordeaux under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Key Statistics
- More than 300,000 people were evacuated in France and Spain, according to the European Commission
- More than 200,000 people were evacuated in the Bordeaux region, according to the Bundeswehr
- More than 40,000 hectares were affected around Bordeaux, according to the Bundeswehr
- 7 planes and 4 helicopters were deployed for operations in France, according to the European Commission
- 6 planes, 134 personnel and 41 vehicles were sent to Spain, according to the European Commission
- 2 CH-53 helicopters were deployed by Germany to support French authorities, according to the Bundeswehr
Main Body
On 27 July 2026, the European Commission said the EU had sent firefighting aircraft, personnel and emergency mapping support to France and Spain after severe wildfires forced large evacuations. The same day, the Bundeswehr said it had deployed two CH-53 helicopters to assist firefighting near Bordeaux.
The European Commission said France received seven planes and four helicopters, while Spain received six planes, 134 personnel and 41 vehicles. The European Commission also said its Copernicus satellite service provided emergency mapping. The Bundeswehr said the German deployment followed a French request through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The overseas mission followed recent domestic use of German military aviation for firefighting. On 16 July 2026, the Bundeswehr said two CH-53 helicopters supported efforts east of Müritz National Park after a fire spread over more than 300 hectares, using external water containers with a 5,000-litre capacity.
The response mattered because the European Commission said simultaneous fires in France and Spain required cross-border support through EU channels. The Bundeswehr announcement showed that military lift aircraft were used alongside civil protection tools, giving authorities additional capacity for emergency response and regional resilience.
