While many Australians spend their European summer holidays relaxing, a growing number of Australian aerial firefighting pilots are spending months on standby, ready to respond within minutes to deadly wildfires.

NSW pilot Alex Pay is among Australian crews based in Greece this fire season. Working from a Greek airbase, he must be airborne within 15 minutes after receiving a fire alert. His team uses specialized Fire Boss aircraft to scoop water and help ground crews control fast-moving fires.

Australian firefighting companies are increasingly being hired in Europe as hotter and drier conditions fuel more intense bushfires.

Crews from Australia are supporting operations in countries including Greece and France, where thousands of people have been evacuated due to major fires.

Despite strict safety measures, aerial firefighting remains dangerous. Recent helicopter crashes during wildfire operations in Greece have highlighted the risks faced by pilots fighting fires from the air.