Spain witnesses the completion of the NRW forest fire management module, GFFF-V DE1, from North Rhine-Westphalia, following a successful run.
German Wildfire Unit Returns from Two-Week Deployment in Spain
The NRW Wildfire Unit, registered as GFFF-V DE1, has returned to North Rhine-Westphalia following a successful two-week deployment in Spain. This German wildfire unit, consisting of firefighters from Bonn, Düsseldorf, Leverkusen, Königswinter, and Ratingen, was deployed at the request of Spanish authorities to support large-scale forest and vegetation fires in the regions of Extremadura and Castile and León.
GFFF-V stands for "Ground Forest Firefighting using Vehicles," a standardized firefighting formation across all EU member states. The unit, which received EU certification in 2023, consists of the components Command, Firefighting Vehicles, Logistics, and Catering. The firefighting vehicle component includes six high-clearance tanker trucks and two firefighting vehicles for disaster protection. Logistics includes an ambulance for medical care and a workshop vehicle with automotive specialists.
The unit set up their base in the village of Aldeanueva del Camino (Extremadura) and began initial firefighting measures on August 20. During the deployment, they were particularly challenged in the areas of the villages of La Bana and San Ciprian, where a large-scale forest fire was spreading in hilly terrain. However, through a combination of ground and air support, the unit was able to prevent the further spread of the fire in this region.
The name of the leader of the deployment team of the Bonn Fire Department during the deployment in Spain is Eric Lambertz. Frank Frenser, Media Officer in the on-site team leadership, stated that the unit's work in Spain under challenging conditions had made a significant contribution to containing the fires and brought valuable experiences back to Germany. Upon their return, the forces reported overwhelming gratitude from the Spanish population.
Press inquiries can be directed to the Fire and Rescue Service Bonn Press Office. Contact information for the press office includes David Bormann, phone number 0228 717-0, email [email protected], and website www.bonn.de/feuerwehr. The deployment of the NRW unit ended after a week of on-site deployment activities and they returned to Germany in three daily stages from August 27 to August 29.
This deployment marks the third time the NRW Wildfire Unit has been deployed abroad, having previously been deployed in Greece (2021) and France (2022). Insights from this joint deployment with Spanish forces will now directly inform concepts and structures for wildfire management in Germany.
