2023 was one of the worst wildfire years in Europe since 2000. Wildfires ravaged over 500,000 hectares of land. This area is nearly half the size of Cyprus. The latest Joint Research Centre (JRC) report on Forest Fires in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa (EMEA) says this.
Europe and its neighboring regions have been increasingly plagued by catastrophic wildfires in recent years, and 2023 was no different. Some fires were so intense that they could not be contained with traditional firefighting techniques. These so-called ‘megafires’ included the devastating blaze near Alexandroupolis, in the Greek region of East Macedonia and Thrace. It became the largest single wildfire recorded in the EU. This record was noted since the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) began tracking fires in 2000.
CLIMATE CHANGE FUELS THE WILDFIRE CRISIS
Climate change has fueled the severity of wildfires in recent years. It is altering wild fire patterns across the globe. The wildfires in Europe over the past four years have been unprecedented. They clearly show the undeniable impact of climate change on wild fire regimes.
Climate change has contributed to:
- Larger wild fire areas,
- Increased intensity of individual fires,
- Longer fire seasons, now extending beyond the traditional summer months,
- Fires occurring in areas not typically affected by them.
This new landscape of frequent and intense wild fires has created major challenges for firefighting services. Aerial firefighting has become more difficult. Ground operations have, at times, been nearly impossible because of the size and scope of these fires.
THE TOLL OF WILDFIRES IN 2023
The wildfires in 2023 also took a tragic toll on human lives. At least 41 people lost their lives, with many more affected by the destruction of property and infrastructure. The human cost underscores the urgent need for action to curb the growing wild fire threat.
2024: A SLIGHTLY LESS SEVERE YEAR FOR WILDFIRES IN THE EU
As of mid-September, the 2024 wild fire season has been less severe in the European Union. The area affected by wildfires was lower than the average of the past two decades. Significant rainfall throughout the spring and summer contributed to this decrease.
In September, several large fires broke out at the same time in Portugal. This pushed the total wildfire damage above the EU average for recent years. Despite this, 2024 is still viewed as a downturn in wildfire severity. The past three years experienced particularly devastating seasons.
The EU has continued to improve in wild fire prevention, preparedness, and firefighting capabilities. These improvements played a role in containing the damage this year.
IMPROVING WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS
The key to tackling the wild fire crisis lies in reducing the number of ignitions and managing vulnerable landscapes. Wild fires often start from human activity, with approximately 96% of wild fires in the EU being caused by human actions. This highlights the critical role of education and awareness-raising campaigns in wild fire prevention.
As the climate crisis worsens, it is imperative that European communities prepare for more frequent and severe wild fires. Prevention efforts should target all populations. Special attention should be given to rural communities in direct contact with nature. Efforts should also focus on those living in the ‘wildland urban interface’. These are areas where urban development meets natural landscapes.
LOOKING AHEAD: ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF WILDFIRES
To protect communities and the environment, it is essential to address the root causes of wild fires:
- Minimize wild fire ignitions by promoting responsible behavior.
- Manage landscapes in vulnerable regions to reduce the accumulation of high-risk fuel types and mitigate their spread.
- Enhance public awareness to prepare all sectors of the population for the changing climate and its wild fire impacts.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTION
- Strengthen Prevention Programs: Focus on reducing human-caused ignitions and creating defensible space in wild fire-prone areas.
- Invest in Firefighting Resources: Expand and improve firefighting capabilities to keep pace with increasing fire seasons.
- Promote Climate Action: Mitigate climate change by reducing emissions to slow down the increasing frequency and intensity of wild fires.
