Record-breaking wildfires have swept across multiple regions in Europe this summer, fueled by extreme weather conditions linked to climate change, authorities and experts report. The Mediterranean has seen some of the most severe impacts, with France, Spain, Italy, and Greece among the hardest hit, while unusual fires have also emerged in parts of northern Europe, including the United Kingdom and Germany.

Across the European Union, data indicate the severity of “fire weather” — a combination of heat, dryness, and wind — has been 43% worse than the July averages of the past two decades. Since the beginning of 2026, the EU has experienced about 1,400 fires, burning roughly 435,000 hectares (1.1 million acres), which is approximately three times the historical average for this period. The increase in wildfire activity is attributed in part to climate-driven factors, with consecutive heatwaves drying out vegetation that had flourished during an unusually wet winter and spring.

In France, one of the most affected areas has been the Gironde region near Bordeaux, where wildfires have scorched approximately 91,000 hectares. The scale of destruction there has already surpassed France’s previous annual record for burned area, with roughly a month still left in the typical fire season. The fire generated intense thermal activity, including a thunderstorm capable of igniting new blazes, challenging firefighting efforts. However, officials reported some stabilization following a period of favorable weather, allowing thousands of evacuees to return home after extensive displacements.

Spain has confronted its largest wildfire on record near the Sierra Oeste region west of Madrid, with the total area burned nationwide reaching around 207,000 hectares — nearly five times the average for this time of year. Authorities reported stabilization of the major blaze, though several residential areas remain evacuated. The national emergency declared in parts of Madrid and Ávila was lifted recently, but new fires near the Portuguese border caused further evacuations. Meanwhile, Portugal and Italy have also experienced near-record fire numbers and burned areas, with firefighting personnel facing extreme challenges in containing the blazes. Italy recently mourned the death of a firefighter battling fires in Sicily.

Greece, which had a relatively calmer fire season until late July, suffered the loss of three firefighters while combating fires on Crete and the mainland. The island of Crete and regions including the Peloponnese have reported active fires amid difficult conditions. Elsewhere in Europe, fires burned in North Macedonia and Bulgaria, where emergency services dealt with hundreds of incidents in a short timeframe. In Germany, a wildfire near the Chiemgau Alps required deployment of around 200 emergency responders. Turkey also confronted several forest fires near its southern tourist areas, resulting in evacuations.

Significantly, the United Kingdom experienced an unprecedented wildfire event in Dunwich Heath, Suffolk, where at least 370 acres of heathland have burned near the Sizewell B nuclear power station. More than 200 firefighters, along with aerial support, have been battling the fire, which led to evacuations of holiday parks and local residents. Concerns about the risk to the nuclear facility’s ventilation systems have been acknowledged but described as not critical at this stage. The fire has drawn attention to the spread of wildfires beyond the traditional Mediterranean zone, highlighting the broader impact of increasingly volatile weather.

Experts note that years of fire prevention had steadily reduced the frequency and area of wildfires in southern Europe since the 1980s, but this trend reversed around 2018 due to rising temperatures and extended dry periods. Climate studies emphasize that recent heatwaves, including a historic June heatwave with temperatures more than 3°C above average, have made conditions ripe for widespread fires. Analysis indicates these heatwaves and soil dryness—key factors in wildfire development—would be highly unlikely without human-driven climate change. The 2023 European heatwaves have been linked to approximately 10,000 heat-related deaths and billions of euros in agricultural losses.

The extreme weather and resultant wildfires have spurred calls from political leaders for greater climate action. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged the creation of a “national pact” to tackle the climate emergency, recognizing that rising temperatures and changing atmospheric conditions exponentially increase the risk and intensity of wildfires. The situation continues to demand extensive firefighting resources, including mutual aid from EU member states, as authorities brace for a potentially prolonged fire season exacerbated by ongoing heat and drought across the continent.