Swiss Army completes fire-fighting operation in Corsica
Keystone-SDA
The 22 members of the Swiss armed forces, who had been fighting the forest fires in Corsica using three Super Puma helicopters, returned to Switzerland on Friday.
Since July 28, they had dropped 452 tonnes of water to extinguish the fires.
+ How to prevent wildfires in Switzerland and Europe
In a statement, the army gave a positive assessment of the 11-day operation. The team had supported the French authorities, at their request, particularly in terrain that was difficult to access, and had made an important contribution to fighting the forest fires.
The cooperation had worked “excellently”.
“The operation was particularly demanding due to the high temperatures, the intense heat and the challenging topographical conditions on the ground,” the army added. A great deal of valuable experience had been gained for future similar operations.
Earlier this week, the army extended its mission in Corsica by four days due to the continuing need for support.
Swiss assistance was also provided during fire-fighting operations on the French Atlantic coast. There, specialists from the Geneva Fire and Rescue Service supported the fire-fighting efforts of the local authorities.
More
More
Swiss Army helps fight fires in Corsica
+ How we produce English news
Translated from German, reviewed by an English Department journalist.
