Europe sees 57% rise in forest fires, WHO warns health risks

The European region has experienced a 57 % increase in forest fires since 2022, according to the WHO European office. From 1 January to 22 July 2026, 1 254 fires were recorded, releasing over 8.31 million tonnes of CO₂. In 2025 about 2.2 million hectares burned, and by late July 2026 already 254 388 hectares were destroyed.

Spain and Portugal each reported a 100 % rise in fire numbers compared with the same period in 2025, while France recorded 69 473 hectares burned by early summer 2026 – a new record that surpassed 2022. The French government deployed an A400M military transport aircraft equipped to drop fire‑ retardant, and Scottish authorities declared a “major incident” in the Cairngorms, prompting evacuations. In Spain, a national state of emergency was declared around Madrid, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.

WHO Europe director Hans Henri Kluge warned that smoke can travel hundreds of kilometres, aggravating heart and respiratory diseases and affecting mental health, especially among the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions. He urged governments to issue timely fire, weather and air‑quality alerts, provide clear health guidance and ensure accessible primary‑care and emergency services.

Human negligence remains a major cause, with discarded cigarettes, uncontrolled campfires and sparks from agricultural equipment cited across the continent. Climate change is identified as the underlying driver of hotter, drier conditions that make fires more frequent and intense. Hungary reported a 33 % rise in forest fires in the first half of 2026, underscoring the broader European trend.