Map Shows Over 1.2 Million Hectares Burned in European Wildfires During Summer

Over the summer of 2026, wildfires across Europe resulted in significant land damage, displacing thousands of people. A new map released by the European Union, utilizing data from the European Forest Fire Information System, illustrates the areas where fires larger than 30 hectares burned between July 1 and August 31. The map indicates that more than 1.2 million hectares of land were affected during this period. The EU reported that fires impacted large regions of Europe and North Africa, particularly across the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Italy, Greece, the Balkans, Ukraine, and Algeria. A study co-authored by Dr. Kirsten Thonicke from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research warns that the area affected by wildfires in Europe could nearly triple by 2100 due to climate change. The study suggests that under a high emissions scenario, temperatures could rise by 3.6°C (6.5°F) above pre-industrial levels, leading to a 193 percent increase in wildfire-affected areas, reaching approximately 20,463 square miles (53,000 square kilometers) annually. The researchers also noted that climate change may cause fires to ignite in parts of Europe that have not previously experienced large wildfires. However, they found that improved fire management could significantly reduce potential damage, with projections indicating a possible reduction of burned areas by 92 percent in a 1.8°C future and 72 percent at 3.6°C. Professor Thomas Hickler from the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research emphasized the importance of investment in wildfire management to mitigate damage, but cautioned that extreme fires could overwhelm containment efforts.