BRUSSELS — Wildfires continued to burn across parts of Europe on Saturday as persistent high temperatures, dry vegetation and periods of strong winds complicated firefighting efforts, with authorities maintaining warnings that fire danger remained elevated across large areas of the continent.
Emergency services in several countries, including Spain, France, Portugal and parts of the United Kingdom, remained engaged in efforts to contain active blazes, while local authorities monitored conditions that have supported repeated wildfire outbreaks during successive heat waves this summer.
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre, which operates the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), said more than 167,000 hectares had burned across the European Union since the start of 2026, a figure above the long-term average although below the pace recorded during the record 2025 wildfire season. Its latest fire danger outlook forecast very extreme conditions across the British Isles, France and northern parts of the Iberian Peninsula through July 22, with high to very high danger extending into other regions.
National authorities have deployed hundreds of firefighters, aircraft and helicopters to combat major fires where terrain and weather have hampered containment efforts. Officials in affected regions have urged residents and visitors to follow evacuation orders and other emergency instructions where issued.
The European Union strengthened its seasonal wildfire response ahead of summer, pre-positioning firefighters, aircraft and emergency personnel across high-risk member states under the bloc's civil protection arrangements. The Commission has said those measures are intended to improve cross-border support as multiple countries face simultaneous wildfire emergencies.
The World Health Organization's European office has warned that repeated heat waves are increasing health risks across the region, describing extreme heat as a growing public health emergency. Forecasts issued earlier this month indicated further periods of exceptionally high temperatures in parts of southern and western Europe, raising concerns that wildfire conditions could persist.
Scientists and emergency management agencies have said prolonged hot, dry weather increases the likelihood that fires will ignite and spread rapidly, particularly where vegetation has become exceptionally dry. While the total area burned this year remains below last year's record level, European fire monitoring data show wildfire activity continues to exceed historical averages.
Authorities said firefighting operations and monitoring would continue in affected areas as weather conditions evolve, with updated assessments expected from national agencies and the European Forest Fire Information System in the coming days.
