(LOIRI PORTO SAN PAOLO) - Firefighters from five southern European nations battled with language barriers as well as flames during European Union-funded joint exercises this weekend.

Around 600 firefighters from France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece were concluding exercises on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, Italy, on Saturday -- using new guidelines drawn up in English.

The training is a part of an EU Rapid Intervention Force (FIRE) initiative launched to combat blazes which devastate between 300,000 and 800,000 hectares (750,000 and two million acres) of forest and grassland in the region each year.

During the exercises, French firefighters under Italian command followed instructions issued in English, in front of observers from Algeria, Malta, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Russia.

Portuguese, Greek and Italian firefighters were also trying to work through English commands -- although with less enthusiasm, it seemed.

"The important thing is to explain to the men what the Italian commander wants," said Portuguese chief Elisio Oliveira. "The idea is that countries with different methodologies are able to work together."

However, according to the head of the Greek specialist unit, Antonis Panagiotakis, "the principal problem is communication between teams on the ground, and the main reason behind that is the language".

Different tactics also exist, for example the Spanish clear the perimeter around a forest fire with tools using very little water while the French go for "direct action" with engines carrying up to 10,000 litres (2,200 gallons) for fires which threaten to swallow up populated areas.

The Sardinian exercise also simulated the evacuation by sea of around a hundred children.

"It's a realistic scenario considering fires reach the water every year in Sardinia, and it's a situation we've also encountered in the south of France," said Henri Masse, head of the French delegation.

The World Wildlife Fund warned at a conference of climate change experts this week in Athens that forest fires similar to the 2007 outbreak which killed 67 and devastated large areas were set to become the norm due to global warming.

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.