Wildfires in France and Spain have highlighted a shortage of Canadair planes, sparking political backlash. Opposition politicians in both countries accuse President Macron of failing to maintain enough operational Canadairs, while the European Union criticises the fleet’s overall weakness.

Canadairs cost €50mn and can carry more than six tonnes of water, making them the only aircraft that can scoop directly from lakes or the sea. Production halted in 2015, leaving France with 12 (only 7 deployable) and Spain with 14 (8 operational). The EU has ordered 12 of its own.

By Tuesday, the EU had dispatched four planes to Spain and one to France, from a lease fleet of 14 strategically positioned across Europe. France battles a 42,000‑hectare blaze in Gironde, while the EU trials an Airbus A400M retasked to dump water.

New Canadaыҡs are ordered, but De Havilland’s delivery is delayed until 2028, with the EU fleet arriving in the early 2030s. The crisis underscores the need for better risk management and fleet renewal.