Europe’s 2026 wildfires show the cost of ignoring prevention

Europe is currently facing another severe wildfire season, with Spain, France and Greece among the countries experiencing some of the most destructive fires of the summer. More than 529,192 hectares have already burned across the European Union this year, putting 2026 above the 2025 record for the same period. Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and tourist destinations as firefighters confront extreme heat, dry vegetation and strong winds. Fighting the fires is only part of the problem; the bigger question is why Europe is becoming increasingly vulnerable to extreme wildfires and whether governments are doing enough to prevent them in the first place. Spain, France, and Greece France has experienced one of its most serious wildfire situations in decades. A fire that began in the Saumos area on 22 July has burned about 42,000 hectares, making it the largest wildfire in France since World War II. More than 220,000 people have been evacuated as authorities sought to protect residents and tourists. On 26 July, French interior minister Laurent Nuñez told France 24 that “France is currently battling 30 to 40 wildfires daily”, it was also announced that the affected area exceeded 115,000 hectares as of late July 2026. Spain has faced a similarly exceptional situation. A major fire affecting Ávila and areas west of Madrid has burned around 50,000 hectares and has been described as the largest wildfire in Spain’s history. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated or confined to their homes as fires affected Madrid, Ávila, Toledo and Castellón. Greece is also facing major fires, particularly on Crete, where more than 200 firefighters have been fighting a large fire front near Krya Vrysi in the Rethymno region. Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated. Moreover, three Greek firefighters have died while fighting the fires. On August 10, authorities announced that new wildfires emerged near Athens and at least 172 firefighters and around 40 vehicles were deployed. The Mediterranean countries face a historical risk of seasonal wildfires due to dry summers and seasonal strong wind, but a changing combination of environmental conditions is making wildfires more destructive. Changing conditions Human activity is responsible for most wildfire ignitions in Europe, ranging from careless behaviour to deliberate arson. Cigarettes, agricultural activity, machinery, campfires and electrical infrastructure can all cause the initial spark. But the spark alone does not explain the scale of today's fires. Europe is warming faster than any other continent. Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service shows that 95 percent of the European continent experienced above-average annual temperatures in recent years, leaving almost no region untouched. Higher temperatures increase evaporation and dry out soil and vegetation. During prolonged heatwaves, grass, shrubs and trees lose moisture and become highly combustible. Therefore, while climate change may not directly ignite a wildfire, rising temperatures and prolonged periods of drought create conditions in which fires can spread faster, cover larger areas and become far more destructive. Rural depopulation also creates conditions in which fires can become more severe. For decades, in many European countries, people have moved from villages and agricultural areas towards cities for education and employment. As rural populations declined, some traditional forms of land management also disappeared, such as livestock grazing, land clearing, firewood collection and maintenance of areas around settlements. The obvious response might be to remove as much dead vegetation as possible, especially in high-risk areas. However, clearing every forest is neither financially realistic nor environmentally desirable. Dead wood is also part of a healthy ecosystem. It provides habitats for insects, birds and fungi and returns nutrients to the soil. The solution therefore has to be targeted. Governments can reduce vegetation around towns, roads, power infrastructure and evacuation routes. Strategic firebreaks can slow the movement of flames. Controlled burning during winter can reduce excessive fuel. Grazing can also play an important role by supporting farmers who keep goats and sheep in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, satellites, drones, and automated cameras can detect smoke and heat earlier. Prevention is harder than firefighting When a major fire is already burning, spending millions on aircraft, helicopters and emergency crews is an obvious necessity. Spending the same money months earlier on clearing high-risk vegetation, restoring firebreaks, supporting rural land management or carrying out controlled burns produces no dramatic images and, if successful, may leave voters with nothing to see. An analysis of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism found that 80 percent of €368.4m in wildfire-related funding was directed towards reactive measures, while only 20 percent went to prevention. European forests are divided among governments, municipalities, companies and private owners. Coordinating management across thousands of properties can be extremely difficult. There is also a mismatch between the speed of climate change and the timescale of forestry policy. Forest management plans are often designed for decades, however, climate conditions are changing much faster. Current wildfires in France, Greece, and Spain prove that Europe cannot rely on firefighting alone to manage severe wildfire threats. Europe may not be able to prevent every wildfire, but it can reduce the conditions that allow fires to become disasters. That means shifting more resources towards prevention, improving land management, using technology for earlier detection, and adapting long-term policies to a rapidly changing climate.