Forest fires: Civil Protection personnel on the ground

Since 25 June 2018 and until the end of the summer, the Civil Protection Military Units (ForMiSC) have been playing an active role in fighting forest fires in Corsica. This operation complements the work carried out by the local fire services. The Organic Forest Firefighting Group (GOLFF) in Corsica: - helps to provide comprehensive coverage of the territory through preventive and active surveillance of the forests; - is able to respond to fires in natural areas, providing backup to the emergency services. PRE-POSITIONED RESOURCES - The Civil Protection Training and Response Unit No. 1 (UIISC1) is deployed to support the South Corsica Fire and Rescue Service (SIS), with 109 firefighters and rescue workers pre-positioned in Ajaccio, Solenzara and Propriano. - Civil Protection Training and Response Unit No. 7 (UIISC7), at the disposal of the Haute-Corse SIS, is deploying 113 rescue firefighters to Île-Rousse, Saint-Florent and Calenzana. NATIONAL REINFORCEMENT RESOURCES - 110 rescue workers man the GOLFF Corse command post and the national reinforcement column, a tactical column that can be deployed to assist Corsica at the request of either of the two SIS units and on the orders of the Southern Zone Operations Centre (COZ Sud). Based in Corte, this national reinforcement capability is provided mainly by Civil Protection Training and Intervention Unit No. 5 (UIISC5), reinforced by a specialist detachment drawn successively from UIISC7 and UIISC1. The National Helicopter-Based Response Detachment (DIHN) is stationed on the mainland but may, depending on the operational situation, be deployed to Corsica. It comprises 27 rescue engineers and 15 crew members from the Army Light Aviation Detachment (ALAT), operating three helicopters (two PUMA and one Gazelle) made available to the Ministry of the Armed Forces under the Héphaïstos plan.