A map created by the French environmental group Reporterre shows that over 622,819 hectares of land burned across Europe this summer. The data comes from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), which tracks wildfires throughout the continent. The fire season is still ongoing, with blazes reported in regions that typically experience fewer fires. In France, a massive fire broke out in the commune of Porge in Gironde on July 22, burning 37,191 hectares and forcing the evacuation of more than 220,000 people. On the same day, a fire near Madrid in Ávila destroyed 42,458 hectares and displaced 56,000 people. These fires are the largest by area burned in both regions’ recorded histories. Pauline Vilain-Carlotti, a geographer and author of L'Épreuve du feu, explains that wildfires are most common in the Mediterranean region due to high temperatures and the presence of flammable vegetation. She argues that extreme fires are a direct result of the climate crisis, with climate change increasing the likelihood of conditions that allow large fires to occur by at least 20 times in Spain and 2 times in France compared to pre-industrial times. Theodore Keeping, a researcher at Imperial College London, adds that prolonged droughts, intense heat, and strong winds have made fires spread more rapidly, a trend worsened by climate change. These wildfires are often convective, meaning they generate their own weather patterns, making them more unpredictable and difficult to control. Vegetation plays a key role in their spread, particularly in areas where monocultures of maritime pines, which are highly flammable, have been planted. Pauline Vilain-Carlotti points out that reforestation efforts in regions like Gironde and the Landes have favored these types of trees, increasing the risk of large fires. Since the start of 2026, nearly 300,000 hectares have burned in Spain, 100,000 in France, and 29,000 in the United Kingdom. Fires have also reached northern Europe, such as in Belgium, where over 3,000 hectares burned in the Hautes Fagnes natural park. Pauline Vilain-Carlotti expresses surprise that such fires are occurring so early in northern Europe, as they were expected to become more common later in the century. The National Institute for Agricultural Research, Food and Environment (Inrae) warns that the fire season may be getting longer, with fires starting earlier in spring and lasting longer into autumn. While the European Union has deployed planes and helicopters to help affected countries, Pauline Vilain-Carlotti says that public policies on fire prevention are lacking, noting that 90% of fires are caused by humans. She suggests improving awareness, managing vegetation, and creating firebreaks around cities to reduce risks. Theodore Keeping agrees, pointing to urbanization and the abandonment of rural areas as factors that have increased fire risks.