Lithuania ready to send 32 firefighters to France

Lithuania is prepared to send a team of firefighters to France, which is battling severe wildfires, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said on Tuesday, as reported by LRT.

“We are ready to help France, which is facing massive wildfires. A team of 32 firefighters and five fire trucks are on standby and can be deployed as needed,” Sinkevičius told a government meeting.

He added that consultations with France are ongoing to assess the exact requirements. “If the need is declared, we, together with our State Fire and Rescue Service colleagues, will contribute both equipment and personnel,” Sinkevičius said.

“Lithuania is an active and responsible member of the international community. When our partners face crises and disasters, we never stand aside. Of course, we expect the same from our partners when our country faces difficulties,” he stated.

Since the start of the year, wildfires in France have burned around 115,000 hectares, according to BNS. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said France is currently fighting 30–40 wildfires daily, with conditions remaining critical in key areas, including the southwestern Gironde and Landes regions, as well as the Var region near the Mediterranean Sea. Some 2,500 firefighters, including a Swiss team, 1,500 soldiers, and around 1,200 police officers have been deployed to Gironde alone, Nuñez previously said.