Energy & Climate
Unreported wildfires in Africa
Global media failing to report wildfire in areas where impacts are greatest.
27 August 2025
Wildfires across parts of Europe have burned more than a half million hectares (1.3 million acres) during 2026, with the majority of the fires occurring since late June.
The fires have caused an estimated €15.6 billion to €19.1 billion ($18-22 billion) in total damage and economic loss, according to a preliminary estimate from experts at AccuWeather.
This preliminary estimate includes direct and indirect impacts from destructive wildfires, emergency response expenses and immediate and long-term health impacts.
Even after fires are contained, smoke can continue to affect air quality across large regions for days or weeks, resulting in ongoing long-term health impacts, disruptions to daily life and commerce and additional economic costs beyond the areas directly damaged by the fires.
‘Dangerous wildfires have ravaged parts of Europe including France, Spain, and Greece. They’ve been fuelled by extreme, record-breaking heat and prolonged drought. The impacts extend well beyond the areas directly damaged by fire.
‘These conditions are threatening lives and livelihoods, reducing crop production, and creating serious health risks due to smoke and poor air quality. The economic consequences could continue to grow as the fire season is still ongoing across Europe.’
JONATHAN PORTER
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist
More than 530,000 hectares have burned in European Union countries this year. That is on pace with last year, when a total of 1.08 million hectares (2.7 million acres) burned in the EU in all of 2025.
Fires have also had a significant impact and risks outside the EU in the United Kingdom, where more than 22,000 hectares (52,000 acres) have burned.
European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) data indicate that France and Spain have experienced some of the most extensive fires.
A record-setting wildfire near Bordeaux burned approximately 420 square kilometres (162 square miles), destroyed homes and contributed to the evacuation of more than 224,000 people. Fires in Greece have also destroyed property and forced evacuations near Athens.
Extreme heat and drought will continue to keep Europe’s wildfire risk elevated.
AccuWeather’s latest forecast shows very extreme wildfire danger across a large part of western and central Europe. The area at greatest risk includes parts of France, northern Spain and the southern half of the British Isles.
There are other areas of elevated risk across southern Scandinavia, Italy, parts of eastern Europe and the Balkans.
AccuWeather’s preliminary estimate of €15.6-19.1bn in total damage and economic loss extends far beyond property damage. Wildfires can create widespread and potentially long-lasting economic consequences through damage to communities, infrastructure, businesses, natural resources and public health.
The estimate accounts for damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, crops, vineyards, forests, utilities and infrastructure. It also includes firefighting and emergency response expenses, evacuations, temporary housing, debris removal, environmental restoration, business interruptions, tourism losses and anticipated insurance claims.
Health-related impacts include emergency medical care, hospitalisations, lost productivity and the immediate and long-term physical and mental health effects associated with evacuations, displacement and exposure to unhealthy wildfire smoke.
Additional losses can result from disruptions to transportation, electricity service, manufacturing, agriculture and food processing. These effects can cascade across supply chains, increase costs and extend the economic consequences well beyond the areas directly affected by the fires.
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