Europe’s wildfires: How prepared are we for the next fire?
Cover image: El bombero Avery Stark, de la unidad Tuolumne-Calaveras de Cal Fire, moja el terreno junto a una línea de contención abierta con topadora mientras combate el incendio Gann cerca de Angels Camp, el martes 4 de agosto de 2026. Ese día trabajaban en el operativo cuatro helicópteros, 50 autobombas, ocho camiones cisterna y 16 topadoras; para el jueves, el despliegue superaba los 1.600 efectivos. Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chroni - Stephen Lam 08:14 Europe’s wildfires: How prepared are we for the next fire?
Europe Issued on: 17/08/2026 - 14:52 Modified: 17/08/2026 - 14:56 Massive wildfires are burning across Europe, from Belgium and Greece to Spain, Italy and France. Alexander Held, Senior Expert at the European Forest Institute, explains why fires are spreading into unexpected areas and whether Europe is facing a new normal. He also looks at how citizens can help prevent and limit wildfires, while stressing the need for greater resilience and better funded government support to deal with increasingly extreme fire seasons.
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⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economy
- ▶Markets around the world might take their cue from how this story unfolds.
- ▶Trade and investment between countries could shift a little if things escalate.
🏙️Local Economy
- ▶The high street usually mirrors big-picture shifts, just a little later.
- ▶Household budgets might notice a small ripple before too long.
🏦Rates & Banks
- ▶Borrowing costs may hold steady for now, but they can turn on fresh news.
- ▶Your loan or mortgage rate is more likely to drift than to lurch here.
❤️Health
- ▶Local health services could get busier depending on how things develop.
- ▶Unsettling news can weigh on sleep and mood, so peace of mind matters.
💷Wealth
- ▶Savings and portfolios can see short-lived ups and downs after this kind of news.
- ▶It could be worth a quick look at your ISA or pension in the coming days.
🏠Housing
- ▶The property market tends to move slowly, so expect any change to take time.
- ▶Mortgage deals could edge around if lenders read the wider mood.