European Wildfires Burn Record 2.5 Million Acres Across Continent

Wildfires, propelled by extreme heat, high winds, and drought, have killed dozens of people across Europe. They have broken an unwelcome record. They have scorched more than 2.5 million acres on the continent. That is an area larger than the island nation of Cyprus.

The fires crossed that threshold Tuesday. That's according to the European Union’s European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). That is despite a recent respite in the 16-day heatwave that struck the region this month. It is Europe's biggest wildfire season. The EU began compiling these records in 2006. The previous record occurred in 2017. That's when European wildfires burned 2.47 million acres.

Experts say this record isn’t likely to last long.

“This is a new reality,” Cristina Santín Nuño told The Guardian. “And the sooner we realize it, and take action to be more resilient to these types of wildfires, the better." She is a fire specialist with the Spanish National Research Council.

Scores of fires are still burning. That includes at least 10 in the Spanish Castille and Leon regions. There, as many as 700 people have been evacuated. Firefighters are also battling fires in Portugal, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. Spain and Portugal are home to roughly two-thirds of the total acres burned. 

European wildfires have also dumped 38 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere so far this year, the EFFIS reports. That is more than at the same point in any prior year.

Scientists say climate change is increasing the severity of droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires. 

Santín Nuño told The Guardian: “It is sad and scary — my home region is burning right now — but not surprising, really.”  

Reflect: What changes do you think are most important to help communities adapt to extreme weather?

Photo of firefighters battling a wildfire in Spain from Reuters.