Climate Change Expands EU’s Wildfire Threat Beyond Traditional Hotspots

(MENAFN) A wildfire near Paris has raised fresh concerns among climate scientists that Europe’s wildfire risks are spreading beyond regions that have historically been considered the most vulnerable to extreme fires.

The blaze in the Fontainebleau Forest, located outside the French capital, destroyed nearly 2,200 hectares (5,437 acres) of woodland within two days and led authorities to deploy Canadair firefighting aircraft in the Paris area for the first time.

France has recorded more than 13,500 wildfire incidents since the start of the year, with approximately 116,000 hectares (286,700 acres) of land burned nationwide. The figure has already exceeded the country’s previous annual record, set in 2022.

Meanwhile, the major wildfire in Gironde has become one of the largest blazes documented in mainland France in recent decades, consuming around 42,000 hectares (103,784 acres) since it began on July 22.

Although officials have brought the fire under control, they warned that continued heat, dry conditions and changing winds could trigger new outbreaks, prompting additional evacuations in areas such as Lacanau.

Climate specialists say regions that were once viewed as having a relatively low wildfire risk will need to prepare for more frequent and severe fires as changing weather patterns reshape Europe’s wildfire landscape.

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