Italy battles widespread wildfires destroying hundreds of thousands of trees in Piedmont and Friuli‑Venezia Giulia

In late June and early July 2026 extreme heat and drought sparked a wave of wildfires across Italy. In the Piedmont region fires burned an estimated 8–9 km², killing about 700,000 trees and scorching more than 600 ha; around 150 residents were evacuated from Premosello Chiovenda and authorities have announced re‑forestation programmes funded by EU funds. In Friuli‑Venezia Giulia the regional government declared a "state of maximum danger" for forest fires, with roughly 70 ha of vegetation lost across several hotspots such as Monte Piolsa (45 ha) and Monrupino (20 ha); the decree doubled fines for illegal fires and imposed strict bans on open flames. Nationwide the fire service reported a 10‑15 % increase in burned area versus the previous year and logged 260 interventions in a single day, noting that conditions of high temperature, wind and prolonged drought are driving the surge. In Rome’s eastern district a brush fire near the Salone road forced the suspension of the Roma‑Sulmona railway line. Regional authorities from Liguria to Basilicata have issued various danger levels and preventive measures, emphasizing vegetation management, fire‑breaks and bans on campfires and fireworks. The same heatwave is fueling wildfires in Spain, France, Greece, Germany and the United Kingdom, where dozens of fires have caused evacuations and travel disruptions.