EU certifies Lower Austrian unit for forest-fire deployments

The European Commission has certified a 122-member Lower Austrian firefighting unit for forest-fire operations abroad. ORF reported that the specially trained team, equipped for ground-based firefighting, can now be requested for major fires through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The certification followed more than two years of preparation and was completed in late August, Austria’s Interior Ministry said. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner presented the EU certificate in early November to representatives of the Lower Austrian fire brigade association and Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf.

The unit, known internationally as GFFF-V, must meet common European standards for training, equipment and operational readiness. Its inclusion in the European Civil Protection Pool also means it must be available for international deployments.

Lower Austrian firefighters have already helped fight vegetation and forest fires in Greece and Montenegro. Cross-border assistance was also sought during the 2021 forest fire near Hirschwang an der Rax, in the district of Neunkirchen.

Austria has 11 certified civil protection modules for international missions, three of them provided by the Lower Austrian fire brigade association. The modules cover different disaster scenarios, including a drinking-water treatment unit jointly operated by the armed forces and the Samaritan Association.