# Italy wildfire season 2026 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italy-wildfire-season-2026 > Updated: 2026-10-17T15:00:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Italy experienced a severe wildfire season in 2026, characterized by a significant increase in both fire frequency and burned land area compared to 2025. Nationally, total burned areas exceeded 1,200 km² between mid-June and mid-September, marking a rise of more than 40% over the previous year. Sicily was the most heavily impacted region, accounting for 55% of the total burned area, while Puglia and Calabria each contributed approximately 10%. A substantial portion of the damage occurred within protected zones, with over 30% of the total burned surface falling within National Parks, Nature Reserves, and Natura 2000 sites. In the Puglia region specifically, authorities reported 3,376 fires between June 1 and September 15, which was approximately 1,000 more than in 2025. Significant increases in fire activity were noted in the provinces of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Bari, Lecce, and Foggia. Regional officials noted that the season began earlier than usual, with interventions starting in mid-May. Efforts to manage the crisis included addressing intentional arson and developing new regional plans for forest fire prevention and active combat. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-17: Italy wildfire season 2026 sees 40% increase in burned area Italy's 2026 wildfire season has seen over 1,200 km² burned, a 40% increase from 2025. Sicily is the hardest-hit region, and 30% of the burned area falls within protected natural sites. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-wildfire-season-2026-sees-40-increase-in-burned-area ### 2026-09-18: Puglia reports significant increase in 2026 wildfire activity Puglia officials report a significant rise in wildfires for 2026, with 3,376 fires recorded—an increase of 1,000 over the previous year—prompting new prevention strategies for 2027. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/puglia-reports-significant-increase-in-2026-wildfire-activity --- Cite as: Italy wildfire season 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italy-wildfire-season-2026