Fires have already burned 254,000 hectares in Europe by 2026

Forest fires have already burned 254,388 hectares in Europe in 2026, according to the most recent data from the European Union updated on Wednesday (July 22, 2026). The continent has recorded 1,254 fires since the beginning of the year. The devastated area is above the historical average, but below the 270,449 hectares recorded in the same period in 2025, the worst year in the series.

France and Spain are the main focuses at the moment. Thousands of people have left their homes in both countries, while governments mobilize aircraft and ground teams to contain the spread of the flames.

Since the beginning of the year, the fires have emitted 8.31 million tons of CO₂ (carbon dioxide), below the 8.48 million recorded in the same period in 2025 and the historical average of 8.89 million. Despite the reduction in emissions and burned area compared to last year, the number of fires in 2026 is more than double the historical average recorded by the European Union.

France activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to reinforce the fight against the flames. Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will send aircraft to support the operations. Sweden also announced the dispatch of firefighting planes.

In France, authorities ordered the evacuation of 3 suburbs of Bordeaux: Le Haillan, Eysines and Mérignac. A fire considered “unprecedented” has already destroyed around 19,000 hectares in the Gironde department and caused the evacuation of approximately 110,000 residents. Faced with the problem, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that “France reveals what it is: a united people, shoulder to shoulder” and thanked the firefighters, military, security agents and European countries that sent support to fight the fires.

In Spain, fires remain active in the Madrid region and in the province of Ávila. The government declared a national emergency, and the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, classified the episode as the worst fire in the region’s history. The Civil Guard mobilized 650 agents, 60 vehicles and two helicopters to support the evacuations.