2007 Greek Forest Fires - International Assistance

International Assistance

When the August fires broke out, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis requested help from the members of the European Union and other nations. The following countries offered help, but some offers were refused:

• Austria – Two helicopters, two planes, one transport plane, and 20 firefighters.
• Canada - Four Canadair CL-215 water bombers and two spotter planes from the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba and one Martin Mars bomber along with a Cessna L-19 spotter plane from British Columbia have been offered, but not yet accepted from the Greek government.
• Croatia - Two Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft.
• Cyprus – 12 firefighting vehicles, 98 firefighters, 29 civil defense personnel.
• Czech Republic – One helicopter with a five member crew. (Declined.)
• Denmark – Six firefighting all-terrain vehicles, which are able to scale steep slopes.
• Finland – Three helicopters, 25 firefighters and 2-3 forest fire experts. (Declined as the equipment was not suitable - Finland assisted in reconstruction instead.)
• France – Four Canadair CL-215 water-tanker planes, 60 firefighters who specialize in helicopter operations, six firefighting vehicles.
• Germany – Three CH-53 water-carrying helicopters.
• Hungary – Two fire engines, 18 firefighters, one doctor, as well as additional equipment.
• Israel – Three helicopters and 55 firefighters.
• Italy – One Canadair water-tanker plane.
• Netherlands – Three Eurocopter AS 532 firefighting helicopters and 27 crew members.
• Norway – One Bell 214 firefighting helicopter.
• Portugal – One Canadair CL-215 water-tanker plane and six personnel.
• Romania – One Mil Mi-17 helicopter with a nine member crew and one airplane.
• Russia – Five Kamov Ka-27 helicopters, six Mil Mi-26 helicopters, two Mil Mi-8 helicopters, and a Beriev Be-200 water-tanker plane.
• Serbia – Six M-18 Dromader and one Antonov An-2 firefighting planes, 6 firefighting all-terrain vehicles and 55 firefighters. The army was on alert for deployment to assist. City of Novi Sad sent a team of 11 firefighters.
• Slovenia – One water-carrying helicopter.
• Spain – Two Canadair CL-215 water-tanker planes.
• Sweden – One Bell-205 firefighting helicopter.
• Switzerland – Four Eurocopter Super Puma water-carrying helicopters.
• Turkey – One firefighting aircraft.