Portugal 2025 wildfires see 91% of burned area caused by 44 large fires

In 2025 Portugal experienced one of the most severe wildfire seasons on record, with about 271,000 hectares burned – the fourth‑highest total since 2001. A report by the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR) found that 44 individual fires accounted for roughly 91% of the area burnt nationwide. The season recorded 8,252 rural fires, the third lowest count since 2001, but it was the fifth most meteorologically severe year of the century, with 29 consecutive days of maximum or extreme fire danger.

The fires caused six fatalities, emitted an estimated 3.6 million tonnes of carbon – about twice the historical average – and generated direct economic losses of around €85 million affecting forests, agriculture and ecosystem services. Eighty‑four percent of the burned area was in high‑ or very‑high‑danger zones, and 73% of the damage occurred in the central region of the country.

Authorities highlighted a shift in challenges: rather than the sheer number of ignitions, the focus must now be on preventing and managing a small number of extreme fires. The fire agency (AGIF) reported a high initial attack success rate of 93.4 % but noted an 8 % re‑ignition rate, above the 1 % target. The report calls for accelerated adaptation of rural territories, increased resilience, and a more anticipatory risk‑assessment model. It also references broader climate‑risk issues, such as low insurance coverage for fire losses and calls from civil society for stronger governmental action and a national catastrophic risk protection system.