Finland to send rescue personnel to Portugal to help manage wildfires

Finland will participate in a rescue service deployment by sending 48 experts in international civil protection to Portugal. These experts will be tasked with helping local authorities manage wildfires. The first of two groups will leave for Portugal at the beginning of August.

The Ministry of the Interior of Finland has decided to deploy two groups of rescue personnel to Portugal. The first group will leave on 1 August and the second on 16 August. Both groups will work in Portugal for about two weeks.

Portugal sent an advance request for assistance in managing wildfires through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Portugal's request will be met with a deployment of rescue service teams that bring together personnel from several EU Member States. These rescue service teams will support local authorities in case of wildfires.

“Deployments are part of EU-level preparedness. One of the objectives of such deployments is to strengthen shared practices and collaboration of European ground forest fire fighting modules,” says Pekka Tiainen, Senior Specialist in Department for Rescue Services at Ministry of the Interior.

In addition to Portugal, the EU will deploy rescue service teams to Spain, Greece and France this year. In all, over 500 rescue workers from Member States will participate in rescue service deployments. In previous years, Finland has sent rescue personnel to Portugal and Greece.

Rescue personnel deployed from several rescue departments

The Ministry of the Interior decides on the provision of international assistance in the field of rescue services, that is, civil protection. The Emergency Services Academy Finland trains, recruits and deploys rescue personnel for international civil protection operations and acts as their employer.

“Providing and receiving assistance is easier when we already have experience of working together,” says Matti Inkeroinen, Coordinator of International Rescue Operations at the Academy.

Rescue workers from the rescue departments of North Savo, North Karelia, South Savo, South Karelia and Kymenlaakso will participate in the deployment to Portugal. Additionally, four experts in international civil protection will be deployed in expert roles. The group will be led by Jani Kareinen, Chief Executive Officer of Rescue Services at the Rescue Department of South Karelia and Teemu Veneskari, Chief Executive Officer, Director of Rescue Services development and support services at the Kymenlaakso Rescue Department.

Finland is an active provider of expert assistance

In international civil protection operations, assistance is provided under international treaties and legislation. Operations are undertaken, for example, when natural or man-made disasters and incidents overwhelm a country’s own capacity to respond.

Finland participates in international civil protection operations through the European Union and international organisations. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism is one of the key instruments for providing international assistance. Countries activating the mechanism request help from other countries to respond to accidents and incidents. 

Requests for assistance are coordinated by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), which operates under the European Commission. Assistance provided through the Civil Protection Mechanism is based on national resources. Assistance provided by Member States may take the form of expert assistance, rescue teams or material aid.

Inquiries:

Pekka Tiainen, Senior Officer for Rescue Services, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 50 456 4477, firstname.lastname@gov.fi (international civil protection missions)

24 and 26 July, Jari Korpela, Training Officer, Emergency Services Academy Finland, tel. +358 29 545 3480, etunimi.sukunimi@pelastusopisto.fi

From 29 July onwards, Jukka Räsänen, Planning Officer, Crisis Management Centre, tel. +358 29 545 3689, etunimi.sukunimi@pelastusopisto.fi