On the morning of July 29, 2025, a Czech firefighting team departed from Mělník to Skopje aboard a Black Hawk helicopter. The helicopter is equipped with a special suspended “bambi bucket” with a capacity of 3,410 liters of water. This bucket, which hangs on a cable beneath the helicopter, allows for water to be drawn directly from reservoirs while in flight, enabling rapid and effective aerial firefighting without the need to return to base.

The flight was coordinated by HZS ČR with support from the Czech Embassy in Skopje, in response to the request from the Government of North Macedonia via the CECIS system. Onboard the helicopter is a three-member HZS ČR team along with a four-member crew consisting of pilots and technicians. Since July 30, this team has been engaged in fighting wildfires in North Macedonia, where there are currently eight active forest fires. The Czech firefighters are currently operating in the Berovo region.

HZS ČR was able to respond to the request for assistance in part because the current fire risk in the Czech Republic is relatively low due to favorable weather conditions. In contrast, North Macedonia is facing a severe wildfire situation due to prolonged drought.

The arrival of the Czech firefighters and their contribution to the firefighting efforts in North Macedonia has been covered by both public and commercial media, including MRT, TV21, and ALSAT, as well as the Sloboden Pečat news portal and the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA). The Czech assistance has been received very positively by the public, and represents a significant contribution to promoting the good name of the Czech Republic in the region.