Dutch Chinook helicopters depart to help battle Spain’s record wildfires
Two Dutch Chinook helicopters, carrying about 60 military personnel, departed Monday morning from Gilze-Rijen Air Base to assist in fighting record wildfires in Spain.
The departure was captured in a video published by NOS, showing the helicopters taking off with Caretaker Defence Minister Brekelmans watching, alongside military personnel.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the deployment was made at Spain’s request to fight the ongoing fires. The helicopters are equipped with water buckets, known as Bambi Buckets, capable of dropping roughly 8,000 liters of water per flight. The operation is expected to begin Tuesday and continue through September 1.
The mission is coordinated by Spanish civil authorities and supported by advisers from the Veiligheidsregio Noord en Oost Gelderland, experienced in major firefighting operations.
“With the deployment of the Chinooks, the Netherlands shows it is taking responsibility, protecting lives, and preserving nature. It is a concrete example of European cooperation and solidarity in practice," the ministry stated.
It added that a Chinook transport helicopter is to stay at the Gilze-Rijen Air Base "to continue responding to requests from safety regions.”
The Spanish wildfires have been fueled by a persistent heatwave with temperatures of 42 to 44 degrees Celsius, high winds, and extreme drought, prompting Spain’s national weather service to issue a red alert. More than 150,000 hectares have already burned this year, nearly double the annual average.
Spain has mobilized national firefighting aircraft and personnel, but the scale of the fires prompted requests for international support.
