Forest Fires in Italy: Firefighting Aircraft Refill Water at Lake Weissensee in Carinthia

Carinthia's disaster protection official Daniel Fellner commented on the ongoing coordination talks with the Italian authorities. He referred to the previous practice during forest fire operations in the Alps-Adriatic region. "CANADAIR firefighting aircraft have previously taken on water at Lake Weissensee during forest fire operations in the Alps-Adriatic region as well as during a joint, cross-border disaster protection exercise," said Fellner, emphasizing the importance of mutual aid and solidarity during disaster operations.

Cross-Border Aid in the Alps-Adriatic Region

The operation is part of a transnational coordination between Austria, Italy, and Slovenia. Carinthia lies directly on the Italian border and has been involved for years in disaster protection initiatives in the Alps-Adriatic region. During earlier fires, cross-border coordination had proven effective, for example in coordinated firefighting operations along the main Alpine ridge.

The municipality of Weissensee lies at around 930 meters above sea level and is one of the highest-elevation swimming lakes in Europe. For firefighting aircraft, the long, open water surface is a suitable location to scoop up water at low altitude. The depth and shoreline conditions allow the CANADAIR machines to take on clear water at short intervals and fly back to the fire sites in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Lake Weissensee as a Refilling Point for Firefighting Aircraft

Italy and Slovenia have repeatedly had to contend with major fires in recent years, especially during the summer months, when drought and heat make vegetation vulnerable. In 2025 and 2026 as well, parts of the Mediterranean region were affected by severe drought. Emergency crews are preparing for an extended fire period, according to local authorities.

Regarding the exact number of CANADAIR aircraft deployed and the duration of the firefighting operations in the province of Udine and around Monfalcone, no conclusive information was available from the available sources. The available reports also contained no details on possible evacuations or affected localities.

Voices from Disaster Protection

Fellner also emphasized the value of advance planning. Lake Weissensee had already been tested as a refilling point during a joint, cross-border disaster protection exercise. That exercise had shown that coordination between the aviation units and the regional authorities along the Austrian-Italian border works.

The incident underscores the growing importance of cross-border disaster relief in the Alps-Adriatic region. Authorities in Carinthia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Slovenia had institutionalized cooperation on aerial firefighting after earlier forest fire summers. The current operation is seen as another practical test of these structures.

For the coming days, the authorities expect further heat and drought in the region. This keeps the risk of new fires high, according to Carinthia's disaster protection office. Lake Weissensee therefore remains available as a refilling point for firefighting aircraft should Italy request assistance again.