Climate change has doubled the likelihood of wildfires in southern Europe since 1981, according to a study published on Thursday, July 30th, 2026, in the journal Scientific Reports. Researchers found that the number of summer days with conditions conducive to fires—characterized by high temperatures, low humidity, dryness, and strong winds—has more than doubled, making southern Europe "more flammable."

The study highlights that this significant increase in fire-prone weather can only be attributed to global warming, said co-author Raul Cordero. The effects are particularly severe in France and Spain, which have recently faced some of their largest wildfires on record.

European countries are currently experiencing an above-average wildfire season, surpassing the record-breaking year of 2025. In France, authorities informed 84,000 evacuees in the southwest that it was safe to return home as the country's largest wildfire since 1949 began to subside.

Meanwhile, Greece is grappling with multiple fires fanned by gale-force winds. On Wednesday, two firefighters died on the island of Crete, the fire department reported. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned, "We have difficult days ahead of us."

In Turkiye, firefighters have been combating at least 115 fires nationwide, with 110 reportedly under control, according to the agriculture minister.

This intensification of wildfires underscores the growing impact of climate change on public safety across Europe.

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