Key facts
- EU fire weather severity is 43% higher than average, with over 435,000 hectares burned this year.
- Firefighters in France and Spain are under immense strain battling record-breaking wildfires.
- France has seen 116,000 hectares burn this year, with four firefighter deaths reported.
- Spain relies on seasonal contract workers, with unions advocating for year-round employment and better conditions.
- Spain's government is increasing funding for wildfire prevention and firefighting operations.
Wildfires across the European Union are reaching unprecedented levels, with fire weather conditions being 43% more severe than the average over the past two decades. Across the EU, over 435,000 hectares have burned this year, triple the historical average, leading to widespread evacuations and immense strain on firefighting services.
In France, volunteer firefighters like Pierre-Hadrien Lusignan are struggling with the intensity of blazes, particularly near Bordeaux. The country has seen 116,000 hectares burn this year, and four firefighters have died, prompting unions to call for more volunteers and increased compensation. The French civil protection budget has nearly doubled since 2017.
Spain is facing similar challenges, with many wildfire firefighters employed on temporary seasonal contracts. Unions estimate around 35,000 such workers nationwide, with numbers increasing to 40,000 during peak season. These firefighters often earn little more than the minimum wage, leading to calls for professionalization and year-round employment for forest management and prevention work. The Spanish government has announced increased funding for wildfire prevention and firefighting operations, and some regions are moving towards year-round deployment of ground crews.
The extreme conditions are attributed to climate breakdown, with heatwaves causing deadly fires and significant crop losses. Firefighters emphasize the need for better prevention work during off-peak seasons to mitigate the scale and intensity of future wildfires.