Croatian pilots in France: 118 flights, 576 tonnes of water in four days
Members of the 855th Firefighting Squadron are battling the largest fire near Bordeaux, while simultaneously handling a record season along the Croatian coast.
Members of the 855th Firefighting Squadron are battling the largest fire near Bordeaux, while simultaneously handling a record season along the Croatian coast.
For the fourth consecutive day, Croatian firefighting pilots from the 855th Squadron of the Croatian Air Force are battling the largest fire in France, in the Somusa area near Bordeaux. According to data reported by the portal 023.hr, in these four days they have completed 118 flights, spent 20 hours in the air, and dropped as much as 576 tonnes of water on the fire hotspots.
The Croatian forces in France are led by two captains: Major Ante Vranjić as captain of the first crew and Major Ivan Dukić at the head of the second. Major Dukić reported from the field and described the dynamic development of the situation.
"The fourth day of the firefighting mission in France is underway. We landed an hour ago after extinguishing a fire west of Bordeaux. The situation is much better than yesterday, thanks to last night's rain. However, as the temperature rises today and the day progresses, the wind is picking up. The fire is rekindling, so we will see what the next hour and day bring," Dukić told 023.hr.
While part of the squadron is fighting fires in France, its members are simultaneously handling the most demanding part of the firefighting season in Croatia. From June 15 to July 27, 2026, they participated in extinguishing 39 fires along the Adriatic coast. Just on Sunday, July 26, two Canadair CL-415 aircraft were engaged at a fire near Krušvar in Split-Dalmatia County.
The overall figures for this period are impressive: 3,195 flights were completed, 481 hours and 50 minutes of flight time were logged, and 15,204.5 tonnes of water were dropped on fire sites. In addition to firefighting, 23 fire reconnaissance missions were conducted along the Croatian coast, and 8,635 litres of foam were used. In 2026, the Croatian Firefighting Association issued 139 requests for firefighting and reconnaissance by firefighting aircraft, confirming the scale of required interventions.
The squadron combines youth and experience, and young pilots share their impressions without reservation. Lieutenant Mislav Petrović talks about the adrenaline that comes with each mission.
"This is an extremely complex job, but above all fulfilling. When we return from a mission, we are still under its impression, adrenaline is still high, and we don't feel the fatigue, which only comes the next day. In those moments, we exchange impressions. Every time is a different situation; when you see from the air what is happening and then the ground forces can stop the fire completely, that's when I realize how important these aircraft are for our country," Petrović told 023.hr.
First Lieutenant Marino Bukvić, a pilot of an Air-Tractor AT-802, assessed this year's season as slightly above average but emphasized that they manage everything thanks to good organization and workflow. "Most fires currently result from natural disasters such as lightning strikes," Bukvić added.
The large fire in the Gironde region, where Croatian pilots are also operating, requires the engagement of the French military. According to AFP, the French army is assisting in the firefighting effort using drones and bulldozers to contain the blaze. At the same time, Le Figaro reports that the fire is attracting crisis profiteers, with thefts of premium wines, break-ins into evacuated homes, and even the appearance of a fake psychologist, further complicating the situation for local residents.
