Europe's 2026 Wildfires Surpass 20-Year Land-Burn Average

Three firefighters died and thousands evacuated as wildfires spread across Spain, France, and Italy by July 23, 2026. Fires are active in southwestern France, central Spain, and Sicily. Europe has burned more land this year than the annual average over two decades, with extreme fire danger — meaning conditions ripe for rapid spread — extending from France into Portugal and the British Isles.