- EU firefighting support to Serbia extended until 5 September with four rescEU helicopters and a Romanian ground team.
- Around 13,920 hectares burned in the Deliblato Sands Nature Reserve according to Copernicus data as of 26 August.
- Helicopters were in the air in under 24 hours following Serbia's 21 August request.
- Copernicus emergency management service activated on 8 August for satellite mapping.
EU extends firefighting support to Serbia as wildfires intensify
EU firefighting support to Serbia has been extended until 5 September 2026, with four helicopters from the rescEU strategic reserve in Czechia, Romania and Slovakia and a ground firefighting team from Romania remaining deployed. The extension comes as wildfires continue and strong winds are forecast in affected areas.
Scale of the wildfire emergency
The severe wildfires affecting the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve and other areas have burned around 13,920 hectares, according to Copernicus data as of 26 August. The scale and persistence of the emergency continue to put pressure on local response capacities and threaten one of Serbia's most important natural areas.
Rapid mobilisation under the EU mechanism
Serbia requested assistance under the EU civil protection mechanism on Friday 21 August 2026. The EU mobilised immediately, and it took less than 24 hours from Serbia's request to European helicopters in the air.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area burned | ~13,920 ha (Copernicus, 26 Aug) |
| Deployed helicopters | 4 (Czechia, Romania, Slovakia) |
| Ground team | Romanian firefighting unit |
| Extension period | until 5 September 2026 |
| Request received | 21 August 2026 |
| Mobilisation time | under 24 hours |
Earlier, on 8 August, the EU's Copernicus emergency management service was activated, providing satellite mapping and analysis of the affected area.
Coordination with Serbian authorities
The EU is maintaining close coordination with the Serbian authorities through its Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), with a liaison officer on the ground supporting operational coordination between the national authorities and European teams.
Statement from the European Commission
Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said:
"These wildfires are putting enormous pressure on Serbia's firefighters and communities. At this difficult time, Europe stands firmly with Serbia and its people: our teams and aircraft continue to work side by side with Serbian responders to bring the fires under control. This is European solidarity in action, and we will continue to provide support as the situation evolves."
The announcement was published on 28 August 2026 by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).