"We must respond quickly and prepare to go anywhere at any time": Nicolas Faure, French firefighter sent to Greece as reinforcement, notes that interventions abroad are increasing with global warming.

"Since our intervention during the violent fires in Sweden (in the summer of 2018), we have integrated this reflection: fires can affect any country and we must prepare at any time", assures Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolas Faure .

This 55-year-old firefighter left for Athens on Thursday evening, with the first detachment of French firefighters sent as part of European aid.

Abroad, firefighters have "a few points of difficulty, recognizes Nicolas Faure: for example, in Greece, the hose connection format is not the same as in France".

"We try to tinker, we adapt," he says.

Feedback

The experience feedback is increasing, further improving the preparation of these fire fighters: "We will anticipate in the future the difficulties we are experiencing on these missions and also improve our own devices compared to what we see. abroad ". On Tuesday, a new contingent of French sailors and firefighters, bringing French aid to 140 personnel, arrived in Greece. With them, about fifty forest fire fighting vehicles.

Just arrived in Greece in this new detachment after a night's drive to Italy and then two ferry crossings, Colonel Frédéric Gosse, 56, notes: “The episodes of heat and drought, which we always have known in the Mediterranean, come back more and more often and are more and more long and marked.

"The topography of Greece, recognizes this Var firefighter," corresponds to that of the South of France ".

"We had the impression that the whole of Greece was on fire"

"What is striking is all these fires at the same time", testifies Nicolas Faure. “When we arrived, there were fires towards Athens, on the island of Euboea, we had the impression that the whole of Greece was on fire,” he summarizes. As in the South of France, where it also comes from, "the fires start from very sensitive rural areas, with many houses to protect". Traumatized by the recurring fires, and in particular the deadly fire of July 2018 which had killed more than a hundred victims in Mati, north-east of Athens, the inhabitants “are very sensitive to the commitment of France, every day we we have spontaneous and sincere testimonials of thanks, ”says Nicolas Faure.

European aid, which includes the arrival of the French, "relieved the Greeks, very happy to see us arrive, with fresh teams and suitable means", explains Frédéric Gosse.

“The European mechanism is in full play,” he says with satisfaction.

On Wednesday, the European Commission announced the dispatch of planes, helicopters and firefighters to Italy, Greece, Albania and North Macedonia to help these countries fight the fires.

In this context, in addition to personnel and land vehicles, France sent three Canadairs and an observation plane.

Even if the firefighters maintain strong vigilance in the South of France, an area still sensitive for summer fires.

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