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.
