HaZZ: Slovak Aerial Firefighting Unit Already Assisting in Serbia

Belgrade, 23 August (TASR) - A Slovak aerial fire-fighting unit successfully arrived in Serbia on Saturday (22 August) and, immediately upon arrival, joined the efforts to tackle a large-scale wildfire in the Deliblatska Pescara (Deliblato Sands) nature reserve, east of Belgrade, the Fire and Rescue Corps (HaZZ) posted on social media on Sunday. "Although the Slovak crew was deployed immediately upon arrival, they managed to carry out seven water drops from the Bambi bucket yesterday. Today, the Slovak team is continuing its operations at the same location - the Deliblatska Pescara nature reserve," wrote HaZZ. Two helicopters from the Czech Republic will join the Slovak helicopter on Sunday. On Saturday, HaZZ reported that the Slovak crew consists of two members of the AFFF-H unit, one member of the GFFF-V unit, two pilots and two mechanics providing technical support for the helicopter. "Our crew is ready to continue fighting the wildfire and to help protect nature and the area threatened by the flames," added the Fire and Rescue Corps in its post. The European Union announced on Saturday that it'll be sending helicopters and firefighters to Serbia via the Civil Protection Mechanism. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with Serbia in protecting lives, livelihoods and the unique natural heritage of the Deliblatska Pescara," wrote head of the EU Mission in Belgrade Andreas Beckerath on social media. The EU's assistance consists of four Black Hawk firefighting helicopters from Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, 55 firefighters and 24 vehicles from Germany, and 69 firefighters and 15 vehicles from Romania. am