DARE First Operational Trial to Strengthen Cross-Border Wildfire Response

Key information

Description

The Horizon Europe project DARE (Deployment And Engagement of Resources and Citizens for European Emergency Response) will reach an important milestone next week with the launch of its first operational trial at the Valabre Firefighting School in Gardanne, France.

The exercise will bring together project partners, emergency response organisations, and operational experts from across Europe to test key functionalities of the DARE Dashboard and validate shared Command-and-Control procedures designed to support cross-border wildfire response operations.

As climate-related disasters continue to increase in frequency and intensity across Europe, the trial will demonstrate how digital tools and harmonised operational procedures can enhance cooperation among emergency services responding to complex incidents that require international coordination.

Testing Digital Solutions for European Emergency Response

The operational exercise will focus on evaluating the DARE Dashboard's ability to support decision-making, situational awareness, and information sharing during wildfire emergencies.

Key functionalities to be tested will include:

Cross-Country Deployment Module

• Command-and-Control procedures catalogue;
• Module capabilities and availability calendar;
• Incident log;
• Mission statement functionality.

Situational Awareness Module

• Incident mapping and incident layer management;
• Tasking functionalities, including sectorisation assignments;
• Sharing of geo-referenced information by the Incident Commander;
• Real-time operational information exchange.

Participants will assess how these tools can facilitate coordination between emergency management authorities and operational responders when resources and personnel are deployed across national borders.

Advancing Interoperability Across Europe

A central objective of the trial will be the testing and refinement of shared Command-and-Control procedures developed within the DARE project. These procedures are intended to establish a common operational framework that can support emergency services from different countries working together during large-scale wildfire incidents.

Through realistic operational scenarios, the exercise will evaluate how harmonised procedures and digital technologies can improve coordination, decision-making processes, and the exchange of critical information during emergencies.

The feedback collected during the trial will contribute directly to the continued development of the DARE Dashboard and the validation of operational concepts that will be further refined throughout the project.

Expected Outcomes

The first DARE operational trial is expected to contribute to:

• Enhanced interoperability in cross-country emergency response operations;
• Improved mutual understanding of command structures and technical practices among European wildfire response organisations;
• More effective information sharing between emergency management authorities and operational responders;
• Increased readiness for coordinated European disaster response missions.

Looking Ahead

The Gardanne exercise will mark the first in a series of planned trials that will progressively validate DARE's operational concepts, technological solutions, and training approaches throughout the project's duration.

By fostering closer collaboration among emergency responders, authorities, and technology providers, DARE aims to strengthen Europe's collective preparedness and ensure that emergency services can work together effectively when disasters cross national boundaries.