Forest fires in Europe

EU warns: “All of Europe could be on fire in August”

“All of Europe could be on fire” in August. This is what the EU’s Crisis Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) warns, reports Sky News.

The head of the agency, Maria Zuber, says that the risk of major forest fires is expected to increase in Greece, Italy and large parts of Central Europe in the coming days.

– If the ongoing fires in Portugal and Spain have not been extinguished by then, the whole of Europe could be on fire, she says.

According to Zuber, 2026 is also at risk of becoming the worst forest fire season in European history, surpassing last year’s record.

France fears huge losses for wildlife

In France, around 43,000 hectares of land have burned since last week. Buildings, cars and farmland have been destroyed – but animals have also had to lose their lives.

“It is already clear that the numbers will be catastrophic,” said French Environment Minister Monique Barbut, according to AFP.

In Le Porge, one of the worst-hit areas, Laurent Tillon of France’s forestry agency said the chances of any wildlife surviving were slim.

Ecologist Grégoire Lois said insects had also likely been largely wiped out, with repercussions for the animals that depend on them. The ash had also polluted waterways and damaged marine life.

Animal welfare expert Céline Sissle-Bienvenu singled out the European pond turtle, a long-lived species that was already badly hit by forest fires in the same region in 2022.

Two firefighters die in forest fire in Crete

Two firefighters have died while battling a forest fire in Crete, AFP reports.

According to Greek television channel ERT, they were trapped by the flames in their fire truck in the mountainous area outside Rethymno.

The fire is described as out of control and has a fire front of about 15 kilometers.

A total of 110 firefighters, 27 fire engines and four firefighting aircraft are working to bring the fire under control, which is being exacerbated by strong winds.