FT: All of Europe could be engulfed by wildfires

Europe is facing an increased risk of widespread wildfires in the coming weeks, with officials warning that prolonged heatwaves could leave "all Europe on fire," the Financial Times reports.

The outlet said heatwaves increase the risk of multiple large-scale wildfires while hampering efforts to contain existing blazes.

According to the report, Greece, Italy and parts of Central Europe are expected to be the most vulnerable, while experts warn that simultaneous blazes could overwhelm firefighting resources.

However, Maria Zuber, head of a unit at the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), made it clear that, despite the threat, the EU's crisis response system would continue to operate effectively.

"Last year, we had so many fires but we did respond to everything. I think we will respond to every request, maybe not fulfil the request," she noted.

Following major wildfires in France and Spain that continue to smoulder, fires on the Greek island of Crete killed two firefighters and forced the evacuation of 8,000 people on Thursday. Strong winds also fueled wildfires on the Cycladic islands of Paros and Andros, prompting evacuation orders in several villages.

"Now we see [wildfires] will go to Greece [and] Italy will face risk at the beginning of August," Zuber added.

The ERCC, which coordinates firefighting aircraft, personnel and emergency assistance for the EU's 27 member states and 10 participating countries, expects this year's fire season to surpass the record levels seen in 2025.

"We had 19 requests [for assistance] last year during the wildfire season. We expect we could beat this record," Zuber stressed.

In France, authorities allowed about half of the 220,000 residents evacuated from the Gironde region in the southwest to return home as conditions improved. However, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cautioned that "the situation remains complicated" and stressed that "a small improvement does not mean that we are letting our guard down."

Spain also eased its response, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez lifting the national emergency status in areas west of Madrid on Thursday while urging continued vigilance.

A study by the World Weather Attribution group found that human-induced climate change made the extreme weather conditions behind the recent wildfires at least twice as likely in France and at least 20 times more likely in Spain.

Guillermo Rein, professor of fire science at Imperial College London, warned that Europe remains at the peak of wildfire season, which typically lasts until early September or longer in parts of southern Europe.

He cautioned that repeated heatwaves, dry vegetation and strong winds could create a "Europe-wide overload," stretching national firefighting resources to their limits and reducing the availability of cross-border assistance, particularly aerial firefighting support.

"The loss of this mutual aid would significantly reduce Europe's ability to suppress the largest wildfires," Rein claimed.

Zuber also said the growing threat underscores the need for Europe to build its own dedicated firefighting fleet. The EU has ordered 12 Canadair water bombers, although the first aircraft are not expected to be delivered before 2028.

Thomas Smith, a scientist at the London School of Economics and Political Science, remarked that this year's wildfire season demonstrates the limits of adaptation measures, even in countries that have invested heavily in wildfire prevention.

"As the climate continues to warm, extreme fire weather is becoming more frequent and more severe, increasing the likelihood of the large, intense wildfires we have seen this summer," he emphasised.

Smith noted that Spain and southern France have significantly strengthened wildfire preparedness but warned that there are limits to reducing vegetation and modifying landscapes to prevent fires.

According to a study published in the journal Nature, European cities and towns are particularly exposed to wildfire risk because around 15% of their land lies at the interface between populated areas and vegetation, compared with a global average of 4.7%.

Modelling by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts also suggests wildfire risk will continue to increase in Europe's temperate and northern forests over the coming decades.

Although the total global area burned is projected to decline due to reduced savannah fires and land-use changes, scientist Joe McNorton said this trend masks significant regional differences.

"European forests are among the regions where we see increasing extreme fire activity," he stated.

McNorton attributed the growing risk partly to warmer conditions that encourage vegetation growth while simultaneously creating more fire-prone weather.

Even in the coming weeks, northern Europe could face elevated wildfire danger, Rein warned.

"It's so, so dry, I worry about the UK and northern parts of France. They are lacking any natural resistance to fire right now," he added.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov