# Fire bans and extreme drought crisis intensify in Europe > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/quebec-wildfire-prevention-and-policy > Updated: 2026-09-10T08:07:31.000Z. Sources: 53. Developments: 19. Since June 2024, fire-risk measures have been introduced in Quebec and numerous European regions, with bans repeatedly tightened through 2025. In Quebec, a province-wide ban on open forest fires was reinstated on 25 June 2026 due to a heatwave. In Europe, fire-danger levels escalated significantly in July 2026. Ahead of the 1 August National Day celebrations, several Swiss cantons—including Zurich, Glarus, and Graubünden—imposed absolute bans on outdoor fires, charcoal grills, and fireworks. Italy also implemented a strict fire-free order for its National Day on 1 August. During the Swiss celebrations, authorities in St. Gallen recorded 67 violations since mid-July, while Basel-Stadt and Zug reported largely calm celebrations with high compliance. In Ticino, a planned fireworks display in Bellinzona was cancelled, though a limited lake-based show was permitted. By mid-August 2026, Switzerland’s drought crisis reached critical levels. MeteoSuisse issued its highest drought warning, level four, for the entire country. Water restrictions expanded across nearly all 26 cantons, including prohibitions on washing cars, watering gardens, and filling pools in Aargau and Basel. The agricultural sector faced severe hardship, with Aargau and Solothurn prohibiting river water extraction for irrigation. Environmental impacts included significant drops in Lake Zurich and Lake Constance, disrupted shipping on the Lower Rhine, and dried springs near Mount Pilatus, necessitating water deliveries via tankers. By late August, the drought began impacting ecosystems like Greifensee, where water levels fell 45 centimeters below average, threatening aquatic life through rising temperatures and lower oxygen. Wildlife, including deer and foxes, have been driven into human settlements, leading to instances of animals drowning in private pools. Following recent rainfall, several regions have begun easing restrictions. In Aargau, Switzerland, the general outdoor fire ban was lifted on 27 August 2026, though bans remain for forests and areas within 50 meters of forest edges. ## Claims - Absolute outdoor fire bans are in effect across multiple Swiss cantons for 1 August due to extreme drought and a forest‑fire danger rating of level 5. (disputed by 7 sources) - The canton of Aargau is lifting the outdoor fire ban. (disputed) - The fire ban in forests and at forest edges remains in effect in Aargau. (disputed) - MeteoSuisse issued a level four drought warning for the entire country. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Authorities in Aargau and Basel have implemented water restrictions. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Residents are prohibited from washing cars, watering gardens, and filling swimming pools. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Residents near Mount Pilatus must rely on water delivered by tankers or tractors. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The bans prohibit fireworks, open flames, charcoal grills and height fires. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Farmers are banned from taking water from rivers for irrigation. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Water levels in Lake Zurich, Lake Constance, and the Lower Rhine have dropped significantly. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Shipping companies have been forced to cancel services on several routes due to low water levels. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Limited exceptions for lake fireworks may be granted with cantonal approval and strict supervision. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Lucerne downgrades forest fire risk level Lucerne has downgraded its forest fire risk to ‘significant,’ implementing a conditional fire ban. Caution is still urged, especially in northern areas where soil remains dry. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lucerne-downgrades-forest-fire-risk-level ### 2026-09-01: Forest fire restrictions vary in St. Gallen and Ortenaukreis While St. Gallen, Switzerland, has lifted its forest fire ban due to recent rain, the Ortenaukreis in Germany is extending restrictions through September due to persistent drought and high fire risks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/forest-fire-restrictions-vary-in-st-gallen-and-ortenaukreis ### 2026-08-29: Nidwalden and Obwalden lift forest fire bans Forest fire risk in Nidwalden and Obwalden, Switzerland, has been downgraded from level 4 to 3, leading to the lifting of fire and fireworks bans following recent rainfall. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nidwalden-and-obwalden-lift-forest-fire-bans ### 2026-08-27: Aargau and Vorarlberg lift forest fire restrictions Authorities in Aargau, Switzerland, and Vorarlberg, Austria, are lifting various fire bans and forest fire regulations due to improved weather, though forest-specific restrictions remain in some areas. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aargau-and-vorarlberg-lift-forest-fire-restrictions ### 2026-08-25: Switzerland: Cantons partially ease outdoor fire bans Swiss cantons Neuchâtel, Lucerne, and Solothurn are partially lifting outdoor fire bans following rainfall, though strict prohibitions remain in place for forests and wooded areas due to ongoing fire risks. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/switzerland-weather-fire-ban-eased-in-lucerne-as-rain-warnings-issued-for-graubnden ### 2026-08-22: Drought in Switzerland threatens wildlife and Greifensee ecosystems Severe drought in Switzerland is lowering water levels at Greifensee and driving wildlife into residential areas, where unsecured swimming pools pose a fatal drowning risk to animals. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/drought-in-switzerland-threatens-wildlife-and-greifensee-ecosystems ### 2026-08-15: Switzerland implements strict water restrictions amid acute drought Switzerland has implemented strict water restrictions across nearly all cantons due to extreme drought and heat, banning activities like car washing and garden irrigation to preserve dwindling supplies. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/switzerland-implements-water-restrictions-amid-extreme-drought ### 2026-08-08: Switzerland faces critical drought and intense heatwaves Switzerland is experiencing a historic drought and intense heatwaves, leading to severe water shortages, river depletion, and level 3 heat warnings across multiple regions. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/switzerland-faces-heatwave-and-thunderstorm-warnings ### 2026-08-06: Canton of Luzern imposes canton-wide fire ban amid extreme drought The Canton of Luzern has enacted an absolute outdoor fire ban across the entire region due to extreme drought and heightened forest‑fire risk, prohibiting open flames, charcoal grills, fireworks and sky lantern 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canton-of-luzern-imposes-canton-wide-fire-ban-amid-extreme-drought ### 2026-08-01: Swiss cantons enforce fire bans during National Day celebrations Swiss cantons upheld fire and fireworks bans on National Day amid heatwave; few violations were recorded, celebrations continued peacefully with crowds and limited pyrotechnics. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/basel-national-day-passes-peacefully-with-few-police-incidents ### 2026-07-30: Fireworks Canceled in French Manche and Swiss Basel Due to Drought Fireworks in France's Manche, Gérardmer and Switzerland's Basel were cancelled or postponed due to severe drought and fire‑risk warnings, with authorities citing public safety and solidarity with firefighting‑s 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fireworks-canceled-in-french-manche-and-swiss-basel-due-to-drought ### 2026-07-30: Swiss cantons extend absolute fire bans for 1 August amid severe drought Swiss cantons and Italy impose absolute fire bans for 1 August due to extreme drought, with fines up to 10,000 CHF and limited lake‑firework exceptions. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/swiss-authorities-enforce-fireworks-bans-amid-heatwave ### 2026-07-23: Swiss cantons impose expanded fire bans as drought persists Appenzell Innerrhoden and Bern cantons in Switzerland have imposed canton‑wide fire bans, prohibiting forest fires, fireworks, sky lanterns and height fires due to drought and heat, with penalties for violators 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/swiss-cantons-impose-expanded-fire-bans-as-drought-persists ### 2026-07-21: Swiss cantons impose absolute fire bans amid high wildfire risk Ten Swiss cantons, including Appenzell Ausserrhoden, have imposed absolute bans on fireworks and open fires as fire danger reaches level 4, with fines starting at CHF 100. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/swiss-cantons-impose-absolute-fire-bans-amid-high-wildfire-risk ### 2026-07-13: Fire bans imposed in Swiss Gossau and Austrian St. Veit districts amid drought Due to ongoing drought, Gossau in Switzerland and St. Veit in Austria imposed fire bans on 13 July 2026; the Swiss ban restricts open flames and wood grilling, while the Austrian ban runs until 30 Sept 2026 and 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fire-bans-imposed-in-swiss-gossau-and-austrian-st-veit-districts-amid-drought ### 2026-07-02: Basel cantons impose absolute fire ban amid high wildfire risk Basel‑Stadt and Basel‑Landschaft imposed an absolute fire ban in forests and on forest edges from 3 July 2026 due to fire‑danger level 4, prohibiting grills, cigarettes, sky‑lanterns and maintaining fishing ban 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/basel-cantons-impose-absolute-fire-ban-amid-high-wildfire-risk ### 2026-06-25: Quebec and Switzerland Enforce Forest Fire Bans Amid Heatwave Quebec bans open fires north of the 51st parallel as 42 wildfires burn, while Swiss cantons restrict or forbid fires amid a heatwave, urging precautions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/quebec-and-switzerland-enforce-forest-fire-bans-amid-heatwave ### 2026-06-13: Quebec lifts province-wide ban on open forest fires Quebec lifted its province‑wide ban on open forest fires Saturday morning, citing improved weather after a period of extreme fire danger. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/quebec-lifts-province-wide-ban-on-open-forest-fires ### 2026-06-03: Côte‑Nord, Quebec Wildfires Spur Prevention Campaign and Fire‑Mushroom Foraging Expedition May 2024 saw 101 forest fires in Québec, below average, with two major Côte‑Nord blazes prompting a prevention drive; a June‑July expedition will hunt fire‑mushrooms to study forest recovery after the fires. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ctenord-quebec-wildfires-spur-prevention-campaign-and-firemushroom-foraging-expedition --- Cite as: Fire bans and extreme drought crisis intensify in Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/quebec-wildfire-prevention-and-policy