Wildfires in 2023 Ravage 500,000 Hectares Throughout Europe

Brussels – In 2023, wildfires impacted 500,000 hectares in Europe, worsened by climate change, requiring new firefighting strategies and prevention.

According to the Forest Fires 2023 report, published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, wildfires affected over 500,000 hectares of natural lands, around half the size of the island of Cyprus.

How has climate change contributed to worsening wildfires in Europe?

The report states that in recent years, destructive wildfires have been common in the European Union and neighbouring countries, and 2023 was no exception. ‘Megafires’ and wildfires challenged traditional firefighting methods, such as the fire near the city of Alexandroupolis in the Greek region of East Macedonia and Thrace. This was the largest single wildfire recorded in the EU since the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) began tracking them in 2000.

The unusual wildfires sweeping Europe over the last four years indicate the undeniable effects of climate change, making fires more frequent and intense. This was emphasized by the first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) and the Commission Communication on Managing Climate Risks in Europe published this year.

Climate change not only expands the size of areas affected by wildfires but also makes individual fires more extreme, prolongs the fire season beyond the traditional summer period, and causes fires in regions not typically affected. The high frequency and intensity of wildfires during extended fire seasons pose new challenges to firefighting efforts across Europe and globally. Aerial firefighting becomes more difficult, and ground operations are increasingly hard or even impossible.

How are wildfire seasons in 2024 compared to previous years?

The initial review of the 2024 wildfire season in the EU up to mid-September indicates that the area scorched by fires was below the average of the last two decades. This can largely be attributed to the intermittent rainfall that impacted much of the EU territory throughout spring and summer.

In September, numerous wildfires broke out simultaneously in Portugal, pushing 2024’s wildfire damage above the EU average of the last few decades. However, overall, 2024 is considered a less severe wildfire season, marking a notable downturn in damage after three consecutive years of devastating fires. 

What strategies are needed to cope with future wildfires?

To combat wildfires in Europe and globally, it is crucial to minimize the number of wildfire ignitions and manage vulnerable landscapes, reducing the accumulation of high-risk fuel types and their spatial continuity. Nature-based preventive measures such as promoting less fire-prone tree species, allowing grazing by herbivores, or implementing prescribed burns are all effective ways to reduce wildfire risks. These strategies, combined with integrated landscape planning approaches, can help mitigate future threats.