"The fire is approaching the city." The voice on the other end of the line urged firefighters to leave Syri i Kaltër in Saranda after 24 hours of battling flames and head to a new hotspot. When Artan Tafani arrived in Delvina on the evening of 12 August, he immediately recognised the scale of the disaster-it was one of the largest fires he had encountered in his 20-year career. The city was surrounded by flames. Faced with the intensity and size of the blaze, the first and most urgent task was to persuade residents to evacuate their homes-a challenge that proved far from easy.

"Usually, fires die down at night when the dew settles and the wind shifts," says Tafani. "But that evening, it burned as fiercely as if it were midday. The situation was critical and getting worse. I was at the city's entrance when the fire surged forward at alarming speed. It felt unstoppable. People were on alert, all out in the streets with children in their arms and unsure what to do. Nearby oil wells made the situation even more dangerous. Preventing a disaster there became our top priority."

He led the operation as commander of a small team-one driver and two rescue units. They began by laying water pipes, quickly activating the flow and releasing 4,000 litres within just five minutes. One flank of the fire was contained, and foam was deployed to suppress the flames. The fire engine was kept supplied without interruption.

EU Delegation to Albania

"We worked through the night," Tafani recalls. "By morning, the fire was under control. We cautiously approached the oil wells to prevent any further danger. We managed to save lives, protect homes, and defend the city," he says proudly.

Aged 44 and a father of two, Tafani admits that when he is on duty, his focus is entirely on the fire. "Of course, my family worries," he says. "They follow the news, they see how far the fire has spread-and I can't answer the phone. There's no time. Sometimes the terrain is too rough, sometimes antennas are burned, sometimes there's no signal at all. And during a 72-hour operation, all communication is strictly through the fire command chain," Tafani explains.

This year marked one of the most challenging wildfire seasons in Albania-and across the wider region. According to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) received a total of 18 requests for assistance from countries including Albania (3), Greece (3), North Macedonia (3), Bosnia and Herzegovina (2), as well as Cyprus, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Spain, Portugal, Israel, and Syria.

Albania activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) three times: first on 6 July 2025, requesting two Canadair aeroplanes for the wildfire in Finiq Municipality; second, on 21 July, requesting four Canadair aeroplanes as rapid intervention support, and two firefighting helicopters for the wildfires in Vlorë and Dibër counties; and for a third time on 6 August 2025, requesting four aerial firefighting assets, closing the emergency on 17 August.

EU Delegation to Albania

These repeated activations highlight the severity of the fires and the country's reliance on coordinated European support to manage escalating climate-related emergencies. Albania joined the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in 2022.

"This membership has enabled the country to benefit from immediate assistance, specialised training, and the exchange of expertise-significantly strengthening our national capacity to respond to disasters," explains Ledjo Hoxha from the National Agency of Civil Protection.

Albania activates the UCPM when domestic resources are insufficient to manage emergencies. In recent wildfire operations, nearly ten European countries have provided aerial firefighting support through the mechanism, with coordinated interventions across multiple regions of the country.

"Italy committed three Canadair aircraft; Greece contributed four PZL aircraft; Croatia provided one Canadair aircraft; the United Arab Emirates sent two Black Hawk helicopters; the Czech Republic and Slovakia one Black Hawk helicopter each; Hungary sent two Cougar helicopters, while Sweden supported with two Fire Boss aircraft," Hoxha says.

EU Delegation to Albania

In 2025, Albania faced an unprecedented wildfire season, responding to 1,354 operations across the country to combat 193 large-scale fires. As the Albanian Armed Forces conducted 120 aerial operations using helicopters, one of the peak moments occurred between 11-12 August, with coordinated interventions in over ten locations nationwide.

Beyond ground and air efforts, Albania deployed thermal drones to monitor fire spread and identify critical hotspots-especially in mountainous terrain. This technology significantly improved coordination between helicopters and aircraft. Two of the drones used were DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise units, provided through the FloodNorthAlb project, funded by the European Union.

"By capturing both standard and thermal drone imagery, the operations centre-and field commanders-can make faster, more informed decisions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of firefighting efforts," explains Hoxha. "The images are relayed directly to pilots, enabling rapid response exactly where it's needed. These drones proved especially useful in Gramsh and Delvinë."

According to Hoxha, Albania's aerial firefighting efforts this summer reflect a coordinated blend of national response and international support. The deployment of a multinational air fleet, the strategic use of drone technology, and the active involvement of the Albanian Armed Forces in every high-risk area underscore the country's strong commitment to keeping the situation under control.