Professional and volunteer firefighters, supported by an army helicopter, successfully put out a forest fire in eastern Slovakia, with damages estimated at 35,000 euros. The cause remains under investigation.
As major fires increasingly rely on unpaid volunteers who leave their jobs to respond, new guidelines emphasize that employers must legally grant time off for emergency deployment.
Fire incidents in Slovakia surged significantly this summer compared to last year, highlighting the critical role volunteer firefighters play in rapid emergency response.
Three Croatian volunteer firefighters from Garešnica, en route to Munich for donated equipment, unexpectedly encountered a traffic accident in Austria and rescued three children from an overturned vehicle.
Blejski volunteer firefighters and underwater rescue divers safely rescued five individuals who were caught on Lake Bled during a sudden strong wind and rainstorm.
Amid dry forests and suspected arson cases, a German newspaper highlights the importance and respect deserved by volunteer firefighters, questioning societal implications of such acts.
A baby girl named Alia was born in an ambulance on the A9 highway en route to Loures, marking the first delivery for two volunteer firefighters from Benavente.
Volunteer firefighters in Ostrava have acquired new intervention vehicles worth tens of millions, replacing decades-old cars. The new equipment will assist them in responding to daily incidents like insect threats and summer fires.
Amidst a series of heatwaves, 420 people, including 166 minors, have been arrested for starting fires across France, with investigations revealing a range of profiles from idle minors to repeat offenders and even volunteer firefighters.
Volunteer firefighters in Prague are using spraying and misting to cool down crowds in city squares and at Prague Castle, as temperatures in the Czech Republic are expected to reach nearly 39 degrees Celsius.
A forest fire has broken out in the village of Radzovce, Slovakia, with 40 professional and volunteer firefighters currently on site. Authorities have indicated that updates on the incident will be provided.
Belgian volunteer firefighters, including Dimitri, have been on the front lines for two weeks, battling the devastating wildfires that are raging across northern Portugal, with their absolute priority being to save villages.
The commander of the Tivat Volunteer Fire Department offered assistance, a message that the Croatian Volunteer Firefighters' Community decided to share with citizens and the public in Croatia.
The current fire station in Planá nad Lužnicí is inadequate for local volunteer firefighters, lacking space for equipment and proper accommodation, prompting the town to plan for a new facility.
A bell manufactured in 1918, previously located in an old chapel, is set to return to the volunteer firefighters in Těrlicko-Hradiště, Czech Republic, after being rediscovered in a local evangelical school building.
Professional and volunteer firefighters responded to a house fire in Malčice, Michalovce district, where the basement was engulfed in flames, causing heavy smoke throughout the building and lightly injuring a minor.
A forest fire has broken out in the mountainous terrain near the village of Štiavnik in northern Slovakia. Professional and volunteer firefighters are on site battling the blaze.
Volunteer firefighters in Mohelnice, Czech Republic, have moved their equipment to allow for the start of reconstruction work on their fire station, a project the mayor expects to be superior to professional standards.
A significant fire erupted at a waste landfill near Zlaté Moravce, Slovakia, prompting a large-scale response from professional and volunteer firefighters across multiple districts.
A shed next to a pallet warehouse is on fire in Golianovo near Nitra, Slovakia, emitting thick black smoke, with professional and volunteer firefighters and police responding to the scene.
Volunteer fire brigades in the Zlín Region respond to approximately one-third of all fire incidents, proving indispensable for the fire department, especially in clearing fallen trees and managing adverse weather consequences.
Portugal's budget for combating fires has been raised to 50 million euros, including an additional six million euros for 2025. The daily compensation for volunteer firefighters will increase by nine euros, and the number of aerial assets for the summer will rise to 81.
Wives of volunteer firefighters, Amy van Zwanenberg and Lucy Stevens, gave evidence at a coronial inquest into the deaths that occurred during Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand.
In the village of Ludrová in the Ružomberok district, professional and volunteer firefighters battled a fire on Saturday morning. The fire affected a tractor and approximately 40 cubic meters of firewood.
The organization has provided specialized gear to volunteer firefighters to assist in clearing burned landscapes and preparing land for replanting under Montenegro's "Green Recovery" campaign.
Low water levels in the Radbuza river in Dobřany, Czech Republic, revealed an unknown stone object, possibly a piece of a statue or a gargoyle, which was subsequently retrieved by volunteer firefighters.
The city of Kronberg is paying a bonus to its volunteer firefighters as a token of appreciation, a practice suggested to be adopted more widely, especially given the increasing frequency of wildfires, though volunteers still require further support.
The forest fire on Kojšová Hoľa has been brought under control, with volunteer firefighters working in difficult terrain to extinguish hidden hotspots.
A car fire broke out early Thursday morning at a family home in Trstice, Slovakia, with local volunteer firefighters battling the flames before professional units arrived. The fire also damaged a second vehicle, incurring significant total damages.
As wildfires rage across Serbia, citizens, volunteer firefighters, and professional rescue workers are struggling to contain the blazes with often insufficient equipment, highlighting a lack of state support.
Volunteer firefighters and city officials in Olomouc, Czech Republic, have tested new lightweight, reusable plastic flood barriers designed for quick assembly.
A wildfire has erupted near Noszlop, Hungary, consuming ten hectares of grass and wooded-bushy areas. Volunteer firefighters are actively working to extinguish the blaze.
A forest fire has engulfed 15 hectares in the Visegrád Mountains, Hungary. Professional and volunteer firefighters from multiple settlements, along with the Pest County Search and Rescue Service, have been deployed to the scene.
North Macedonia's official Angelov announced unprecedented readiness for the upcoming summer fire season, highlighting the mobilization of volunteer firefighters for open-space fires.
Volunteer firefighters in France, who constitute 80% of the force, are voicing their persistent fatigue and a perceived lack of recognition, especially during the demanding summer fire season.
Due to high care costs in Luxembourg, a 59-year-old woman, a resident for over 20 years, is being transported by volunteer firefighters from her home community to Portugal to spend her retirement.
The Popular Saints festival in Guarda, Portugal, is set to begin on Thursday at the volunteer firefighters' headquarters, promising a moment of conviviality and celebration of traditions across 12 neighborhoods.
A recreational fisherman has died on Praia das Maçãs beach in the municipality of Sintra, Lisbon district. His death was declared at the scene, and his body was recovered by the volunteer firefighters' vertical rescue team.
The České Švýcarsko National Park in the Czech Republic is showing signs of natural recovery after a recent wildfire, with park administration and volunteer firefighters monitoring the area. The article highlights nature's ancient ability to cope with fire aftermath.
Three units of volunteer firefighters from Ústí nad Orlicí trained for safe driving in adverse conditions at a polygon in Vysoké Mýto, a rare opportunity for volunteer corps compared to their professional counterparts.
A forest fire broke out in the rocky terrain of Ľubochňa, within the Veľká Fatra National Park in Slovakia, reaching the highest level of protection. Professional and volunteer firefighters, aided by modern technology, are battling the blaze.
Firefighting departments in some US states are closing due to a lack of volunteers, with New York state reporting the lowest number of volunteer firefighters in 40 years.
Sixteen units of professional and volunteer firefighters are battling a forest fire near Rajnochovice in the Kroměříž region of the Czech Republic. Strong winds are complicating their efforts as the fire rapidly spread across approximately one hectare of young forest.
Volunteer firefighters from 'Dalmacija' Dugi Rat released photos of a passenger ship that caught fire in the port of Bajnice near Omiš on Tuesday evening.
A man wanted in Pennsylvania for setting his house on fire while attempting to kill spiders was later arrested in New York City for a hit-and-run incident. Volunteer firefighters spent hours battling the blaze in Pennsylvania.
Volunteer firefighters in New Zealand are renewing calls for the government to provide mental health coverage through ACC, citing the trauma experienced by volunteers, highlighted by the Mt Maunganui tragedy.
Volunteer firefighters returning from an intervention on the A1 highway were involved in an accident when their vehicle was hit by a truck. No one was injured, but both vehicles sustained significant damage.
Volunteer firefighters in Bohdaneč, Czech Republic, lost their garage and a newly acquired fire tanker, along with equipment, in a fire. They are now seeking to replace the lost equipment.
Recent rainfall has significantly aided containment efforts on Mount Stolovi, though several residual hotspots remain active in the Ibar valley region. Firefighters continue monitoring the area as conditions gradually stabilize.
Predrag Matović, president of a volunteer fire brigade association, revealed that the government cut budgetary allocations for volunteers following their public solidarity with student demonstrators.
The coastal town of Cadzand in Zeeland will definitively no longer have a fire station, despite volunteer firefighters filing a lawsuit against the safety region's decision, fearing for local safety.
During a sudden strong wind and rainstorm, Bled volunteer firefighters and underwater rescue divers safely rescued five people who were trapped on Lake Bled.
A night fire in the village of Veľké Kozmálovce, Slovakia, spread from an outbuilding to the roof and attic of a family home. Professional and volunteer firefighters were involved in extinguishing the blaze.
Volunteer firefighters in the Czech Republic have collected more than 2500 tons of electronic waste from towns and villages since the beginning of the year as part of the "Recycle with Firefighters" project.
Following the massive Saumos wildfire, applications to become volunteer firefighters have significantly increased in Gironde, with nearly 470 new candidacies recorded since July 23.
Volunteer firefighters and municipal police in Přerov, Czech Republic, will move into a newly renovated former professional fire station next spring, an investment made possible by the city acquiring the building from the state.
A large waste dump fire occurred in Bajtava near Nové Zámky, Slovakia, requiring 30 professional and volunteer firefighters to extinguish it. No injuries were reported.
The Federation of Cypriot Organisations of America has donated approximately €30,000 to purchase protective gear for volunteer firefighters serving communities affected by wildfires in the Limassol mountains.
The prefect of Loire-Atlantique, France, has appealed to employers to be more flexible in releasing volunteer firefighters for operational duties, citing a shortage of personnel. The prefecture identified 2,944 employers with at least one volunteer firefighter.
Portugal's National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) is investigating the dispatch of emergency resources following the death of a man in Taipas. The acting commander of the Taipas Volunteer Firefighters confirmed their resources were available and expressed surprise that firefighters from a more distant corporation in Guimarães were activated instead, raising further concerns about the emergency service's response protocols.
A significant field fire broke out near the village of Pôtor in the Veľký Krtíš district of Slovakia, affecting an area equivalent to nearly two football fields. Professional and volunteer firefighters spent the afternoon battling the blaze, which occurred after the harvest.
North Macedonia's authorities have announced that at least 120 volunteer firefighters will be available during the fire season, with agreements in place for their deployment through protection and rescue teams.
Volunteer firefighters in Orlické Záhoří have acquired a new specialized water tanker, costing 14.5 million Czech crowns, to transport more water to fires in challenging mountainous terrain.
A paging error resulted in 6500 text messages about old, non-existent emergencies being sent to volunteer firefighters, causing some to respond to false alarms.
A forest firefighting vehicle belonging to the Figueira da Foz Volunteer Firefighters overturned upon exiting its barracks while responding to a fire, resulting in five injuries.
Three individuals, including two volunteer firefighters, were hospitalized after being electrocuted when a barrier they were installing came into contact with a high-voltage power line.
Volunteer firefighters in Montenegro report being significantly more organized, equipped, and educated for the upcoming fire season, building on their past efforts as an informal group using basic tools to extinguish fires.
Volunteer firefighters in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, successfully conducted an exercise to assemble and test the effectiveness of mobile flood protection walls along the Polečnice River.
The Prague district of Cholupice will construct a new fire station for volunteer firefighters and dozens of children, costing over 55 million CZK, with completion expected by next summer.
Municipal councils in the Azores are exploring a new monthly municipal civil protection tax per household to boost funding for volunteer firefighters and improve their salaries.
Volunteer firefighters from Figueira da Foz collected the largest quantity of equipment, over 3,000 tons, and will receive a light fire-fighting vehicle worth 72,500 euros as a prize from Electrão.
Volunteer firefighters from Koterov, Plzeň, have a new modern fire station, created by converting a warehouse. The new facility can accommodate all their equipment and replaces the original historic station.
The Volunteer Firefighters of Oleiros, Portugal, are set to receive two new rural firefighting vehicles, acquired through a successful application to the Centro 2030 program.
Volunteer firefighters in Velké Chvojno in the Ústí Region, Hora Svaté Kateřiny in the Most Region, or Čížkovice in the Litoměřice Region are planning to repair and modernize their fire stations this year. One will be built in Droužkovice in the