SLOVENIA’S EXPERIENCES IN FIGHTING FIRES IN MACEDONIA AND GREECE IN 2007

Abstract

The summer of 2007 will be remembered for its high temperatures, which affected the majority of countries in southern Europe. A consequence of the high temperatures was numerous fires in the natural environment, which appeared in large numbers in Italy, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia. In 2007 the majority of these countries recorded the highest number of fires in the natural environment since systematic records began. The affected countries battled the fires to the extent that the competent services were able. In this struggle with fires some countries exhausted all their capacities and sought help from the international community. Slovenia was one country that responded to these appeals, and sent to Macedonia and Greece a helicopter for extinguishing fires in the natural environment, along with the pertaining team and equipment.