Aircraft from Sweden have been continuously active throughout the day in the Sabugal region
In the midst of ongoing wildfires in the north of Spain, both Spain and Portugal have mobilized extensive resources to combat the blazes. The severe wildfire outbreaks of 2025 have led to extensive burned areas in both countries, necessitating large-scale emergency responses.
Spain has deployed nearly 1,900 soldiers, along with additional firefighting forces, primarily in hard-hit areas like Galicia and Castilla y León. Portugal, on the other hand, has mobilized about 5,000 firefighters and uses airborne water bombers to combat fires mainly in the northern and central regions.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated multiple times in 2025, providing cross-border support including firefighting planes and helicopters from other member states to countries like Spain, Portugal, and Greece. However, specific details on Swedish firefighting aircraft deployment in Sabugal, Portugal, are not documented in the latest sources.
The mutual aid protocol between Portugal and Spain for border areas has been highly active in recent days, particularly in managing fires generated in Spain that have crossed into Portugal. As of now, the operation is still ongoing, and no new information about the status of the operation or the specific aircraft involved has been provided.
José Ribeiro, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Deputy Commander in Portugal, mentioned that teams are expected to be relieved after a certain period of intense firefighting efforts in the central and northern regions of the country. He also highlighted the occurrence in Piodão as a complex theater of operations, and mentioned setting up rest areas for operators in collaboration with the Portuguese Red Cross.
Despite the fatigue starting to be felt among the firefighting teams after a week of intense effort, efforts focus not only on immediate firefighting but also on innovation and long-term landscape management to improve fire resilience across Europe. Europe's firefighting forces are stretched to their limits, highlighting the importance of coordinated regional responses and cross-border aid.
In a recent development, it has been reported that two Swedish firefighting aircraft, medium-sized Fire Boss aircraft, are currently operating in Sabugal, Portugal, under the European Civil Protection Mechanism. However, no new information about the fires in the north of Spain or any major fires in Montalegre, Portugal, has been provided.
As the situation remains dynamic, with large-scale firefighting operations ongoing in both countries, the cooperation between Spain and Portugal continues to be critical in managing the wildfires and ensuring the safety of their citizens.
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