Czech Republic sees rising forest fire danger as heatwave and dry conditions persist

Forest authorities in the Czech Republic warn that intense heat, prolonged dry spells and wind are turning the Central Bohemian region into a high‑risk zone for wildfires. Since the start of the year, fires have damaged about 50 hectares of state‑owned forest, causing roughly 15 million CZK in losses. Officials stress that not only discarded cigarette butts or glass shards can spark blazes; even portable tourist stoves can ignite dry vegetation. “A tourist stove is safer than an open campfire, but its direct flame or radiant heat can still set fire to the forest,” said Jiří Smetana, head of safety at Czech Forests.

To counter the threat, forest crews are deploying drones, creating isolation strips that break up forest continuity, and testing a new preventive chemical that hinders fire spread. Libor Strakoš, technical director at Czech Forests, explained that these strips “divide the forest into smaller units, making it easier for firefighting techniques to contain a fire.”

Scientists warn that Europe’s wildfire incidence is set to double by 2100 under climate change. The Czech region of “Czech Switzerland” recently suffered a 100‑hectare blaze, recalling the 2022 fire that burned 1,060 ha. According to the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), EU fires now affect about half a million hectares annually, with the Mediterranean and increasingly the continental, alpine and boreal zones at risk. Ecologist Stephen J. Pynez noted that “fire is not merely a destructive force; it is an integral part of many ecosystems.”