A team of 70 firefighters from Ukraine is on deployment in southwest France, where wildfires have scorched 42,000 hectares in the worst blaze in decades. RFI met the Ukrainian rescuers helping to put out the last of the flames.
Issued on: 07/08/2026 - RFI
Ukrainian firefighters in Le Porge, southwestern France, on 4 August 2026. The area has been devastated by an extensive wildfire. © Pierre Olivier / RFI
Nine Ukrainian fire engines are in Gironde, the southwest department at the epicentre of France's wildfires.
Concentrated around the village of Le Porge, firefighters from Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and other parts of western Ukraine head out to comb the still smouldering woodland.
The last remaining hotspots now lie buried under a few centimetres of earth, explains French firefighter Thomas Mimiague.
"We need to work by hand to move away the earth and sand and bring whatever is still burning back to the surface so we can put it out."
Nine Ukrainian fire engines are in Gironde, the southwest department at the epicentre of France's wildfires.
Concentrated around the village of Le Porge, firefighters from Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and other parts of western Ukraine head out to comb the still smouldering woodland.
The last remaining hotspots now lie buried under a few centimetres of earth, explains French firefighter Thomas Mimiague.
"We need to work by hand to move away the earth and sand and bring whatever is still burning back to the surface so we can put it out."
Ukrainian firefighters prepare for a mission near Le Porge. © Pierre Olivier / RFI
Wartime experience
Residents only began returning on Monday, nearly two weeks after flames tore through the area's forests and prompted mass evacuations. With more than 180 houses destroyed, Le Porge has been worse hit than any other community in the region.
The Ukrainian team arrived last weekend as part of a mission announced at the end of July and are expected to stay at least a week.
"For us, it's important to be by your side because when we needed help, France reached out," Lieutenant-Colonel Khrystyna Pertsovitch told RFI.
Because of the language barrier, the Ukrainian team is operating as an independent unit rather than working directly with French firefighters.
Pertsovitch said her colleagues were used to challenging situations. "Every day, we are subjected to shelling and air strikes. Our firefighters work in very difficult conditions. So we're putting that experience into practice here."
Ukrainian firefighter Khrystyna Pertsovitch, one of 70 emergency workers helping to put out wildfires in southwest France. © Pierre Olivier / RFI
European solidarity
France requested outside reinforcements soon after the fire broke out on 22 July.
Via the European Union's civil protection mechanism, the EU has sent planes and helicopters from countries including Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Turkey.
Firefighting teams have also arrived from across Europe, with some already in place when the blaze began as part of EU preparedness plans.
For the mayor of Le Porge, Martial Zaninetti, the Ukrainians' help is especially moving.
"It's wonderful to see this solidarity that transcends borders," he told RFI.
"These people enduring a war have come to help us. We're in another place, another world."
This article has been adapted from the original version in French by Pierre Olivier.
France requested outside reinforcements soon after the fire broke out on 22 July.
Via the European Union's civil protection mechanism, the EU has sent planes and helicopters from countries including Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Turkey.
Firefighting teams have also arrived from across Europe, with some already in place when the blaze began as part of EU preparedness plans.
For the mayor of Le Porge, Martial Zaninetti, the Ukrainians' help is especially moving.
"It's wonderful to see this solidarity that transcends borders," he told RFI.
"These people enduring a war have come to help us. We're in another place, another world."
This article has been adapted from the original version in French by Pierre Olivier.
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