Europe Firefighters Warn of Poor Wildfire Preparedness for 2026

European firefighters are warning that they are dangerously unprepared for the upcoming 2026 wildfire season, despite record-breaking blazes in 2025 that burned over one million hectares across the European Union. Fire crews in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and Italy say chronic underfunding, staffing shortages, and lack of equipment have left them struggling to face what experts predict could be an even more severe fire season.

The summer of 2025 shattered records as wildfires tore through Mediterranean countries, killing at least 30 people and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. In the EU alone, more than one million hectares of land burned — an area roughly the size of Cyprus — marking the highest total in over two decades. But 2026 could be worse: a wet winter has fueled excessive vegetation growth across parts of southern Europe, creating vast amounts of dry, flammable material as summer temperatures rise.

Why Are European Fire Services Underprepared?

The European Union has taken steps to bolster firefighting capacity. In June 2026, the European Commission announced its largest-ever wildfire response deployment, pre-positioning 777 firefighters from 14 EU countries in high-risk zones across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. The EU fleet includes 22 firefighting airplanes and 5 helicopters, supported by the 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and the Copernicus satellite system for real-time monitoring.

However, local firefighters on the ground say these measures are not enough. According to a report by Reuters in March 2026, Europe is "dangerously unprepared" for worsening wildfires, with critical gaps in prevention strategies, cross-border coordination, and national firefighting budgets. The European wildfire prevention strategy remains fragmented, with responsibility split among hundreds of regional and local authorities.

Funding and Staffing Crises

In Spain, firefighters in the region of Castilla y León have voiced deep frustration. Simón Alonso, spokesperson for the association of forest firefighters in the region, told Bloomberg: 'Our people are really angry. Some people are trained but not hired, others are hired but have nothing to do because orders don't come from above — everything is completely disjointed.'

Similar tensions have erupted across Europe. In France, where approximately 80 percent of firefighters are volunteers and budgets depend on more than 100 different regional and local governments, nine firefighter unions met with advisors to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on May 27, 2026, warning that the French firefighting system is at a breaking point. A union spokesperson, Laratta, stated: 'Our mentality as firefighters has always been to find a solution, but we have been doing the impossible for three consecutive years.'

In Portugal, Spain, Greece, and France, firefighters took to the streets after the 2025 summer season, demanding year-round contracts, higher wages, better equipment, and increased resources. Many of those demands remain unmet.

What Is the EU Doing to Prepare for the 2026 Wildfire Season?

The EU's enhanced response for 2026 represents a significant escalation in preparedness. Under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the rescEU program, the Commission has pre-deployed firefighting assets to the most vulnerable regions. A new European regional firefighting station in Cyprus, capable of housing six aircraft and hosting training exercises, is set to become operational in 2026.

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, emphasized that preparedness saves lives and protects livelihoods. The ERCC will operate around the clock with additional wildfire experts, supported by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and Copernicus satellite services for risk forecasting and real-time mapping.

Despite these efforts, the 2025 EU wildfire record highlighted how quickly local teams were overwhelmed by the scale and intensity of the blazes. Scientists have attributed the extreme fire seasons to climate change, which is making heatwaves more frequent and severe, and to governments failing to control excess flammable vegetation in vacant plots.

Climate Change Driving Increased Wildfire Risk

Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, according to UN climate reports. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are projected to drive increases in wildfire activity across the continent. Areas previously less prone to fires now face new risks, while traditionally fire-prone regions like southern Europe are experiencing longer fire seasons and more extreme fire behavior.

A study published in Environmental Research Letters warns that climate change will likely lead to more frequent and intense wildfires across Europe, requiring adaptive management strategies to cope with the growing threat. The impact of climate change on wildfires is becoming impossible to ignore.

What Are the Implications for Mediterranean Countries?

For countries like Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy, and France, the upcoming wildfire season poses not only an environmental threat but also a significant economic and social challenge. The 2025 fires destroyed homes, farmland, and critical infrastructure, with losses running into billions of euros. Tourism, a vital sector for many Mediterranean nations, was also severely impacted.

Local firefighters warn that without sustained investment and structural reform, they will continue to be caught off guard. The EU's deployment of 777 firefighters is a welcome step, but many argue it addresses symptoms rather than root causes. As one French firefighter union representative put it: 'We are doing the impossible every year. We need a unified national funding system, not piecemeal budgets from a hundred different local authorities.'

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are European firefighters warning about the 2026 wildfire season?

Firefighters across Europe say they are underfunded, understaffed, and lack proper equipment to handle the growing threat of wildfires. After a record-breaking 2025 season that burned over 1 million hectares in the EU, a wet winter has created excess vegetation that now serves as fuel for fires, raising the risk of an even worse season in 2026.

What is the EU doing to prepare for wildfires in 2026?

The EU has deployed its largest-ever wildfire response, pre-positioning 777 firefighters from 14 countries in high-risk zones, along with 22 firefighting airplanes and 5 helicopters. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre operates 24/7 with wildfire experts, supported by the Copernicus satellite system. A new regional firefighting station in Cyprus will also open in 2026.

Which European countries are most at risk for wildfires in 2026?

The highest-risk countries are in the Mediterranean region: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus. These nations experienced the most severe fires in 2025 and face continued drought conditions and abundant dry vegetation.

How does climate change affect European wildfires?

Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and climate change is driving longer fire seasons, more extreme heatwaves, and changing precipitation patterns. These conditions increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires, even in regions not traditionally prone to them.

What do firefighters demand from their governments?

Firefighters are calling for year-round contracts (instead of seasonal), higher wages, better equipment, increased staffing, and unified national funding systems. Many also demand better prevention strategies, including controlled burns and vegetation management.

Sources

• European Commission press release (IP/26/1230), June 3, 2026
• Reuters: 'Europe dangerously unprepared for worsening wildfires,' March 24, 2026
• Bloomberg: Interviews with European firefighters, June 2026
• European Commission: 'EU ready for summer wildfires 2026,' June 2, 2026
• Wikipedia: 2025 European and Mediterranean wildfires
• Environmental Research Letters: Climate change projections for European wildfire activity