European Wildfires Burn 543,000 Hectares Year-to-Date

On Monday, the European Commission reported that wildfire activity across the EU remains above the long-term average in 2026, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

Since the start of the year, fires have burned 542,926 hectares, or about 1.34 million acres. The burned area remains below the level recorded by the same date in 2025—the worst year on record—but exceeds the 2006–25 average of 197,347 hectares (487,655 acres).

EFFIS detected 1,599 fires of approximately 30 hectares (74 acres) or larger since the start of the year. That compares with 1,635 fires recorded during the same period last year, and a long-term year-to-date average of 686 fires. The tally may include fires intentionally set for vegetation management.

Very extreme fire danger conditions continue across southern Great Britain and have expanded into northwestern France, through the Alps, and into the Balkans. Extreme conditions also cover much of the Iberian Peninsula, central and southern France, and parts of the western Balkans.

Very high fire danger extends across scattered areas of central and eastern Europe, Türkiye, and parts of North Africa. Northern Scandinavia and large portions of eastern Europe remain at low fire danger, although isolated areas of elevated risk persist.