Poland and Germany unite in massive cross-border wildfire drill

A simulated inferno became a proving ground for unity. Firefighters, drones, and high-capacity pumps bridged borders to redefine emergency cooperation.

, and Administrator

2025 November 22 . 7:34 PM

1 min read

The picture is taken from an army training camp. In the foreground of the picture there is a person... — The picture is taken from an army training camp. In the foreground of the picture there is a person firing a gun, beside him there is another person wearing a red cap. In the center of the background there are trees, tent and people. Sky is clear and it is sunny. In the foreground there are bullet caps and grass.

Poland and Germany unite in massive cross-border wildfire drill

Nearly 400 emergency responders from Poland and Germany took part in a large-scale wildfire drill over the weekend. The exercise, named Rzepin 2025, brought together firefighting teams, drones, and specialised pumping units to test cross-border cooperation in a simulated crisis. Organisers described the training as a key step in improving joint responses to forest fires in the region.

The drill unfolded in Rzepin, a border area where Polish and German teams faced a mock wildfire scenario. Among the participants were the Polish Fire Service (PSP), Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), and local volunteer brigades. The Rzepin Forest District also contributed expertise, while the THW deployed its High Capacity Pumping (HCP) module to tackle water supply challenges.

The exercise confirmed the effectiveness of cross-border teamwork during wildfire emergencies. Both Polish and German agencies now have firsthand experience in deploying shared resources, from drones to high-capacity pumps. Future drills are expected to build on these results, further strengthening regional preparedness.