MALTESE FIREFIGHTERS ASSIST IN MAJOR WILDFIRE OPERATION IN PORTUGAL

Maltese Civil Protection Department (CPD) firefighters deployed in Portugal are currently assisting local authorities in tackling a major wildfire in Arouca.

The Maltese team is working alongside the Força Especial de Proteção Civil as part of an operation involving around 600 firefighters.

The teams are working to contain the flames and protect nearby communities and surrounding areas as the wildfire continues to pose a significant challenge.

The Maltese contingent was deployed to Portugal under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s wildfire pre-positioning programme, coordinated through the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).

The programme allows firefighters and emergency teams from different European countries to be positioned in areas at higher risk of wildfires, enabling a faster response when major emergencies occur.

The CPD firefighters continue to support the operation with professionalism and dedication, representing Malta’s contribution to European cooperation during emergencies.

Their deployment highlights the importance of international cooperation in responding to increasingly serious wildfire threats and protecting communities across Europe.

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