Maria Zuber, head of the EU's Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre, has warned that wildfires could engulf "all of Europe" within days. Her warning comes as wildfires continue to ravage parts of the Mediterranean, tearing through France, Spain, Greece and Portugal.
Record-breaking fire season
Speaking to reporters, Zuber said 2026 could become the biggest fire season in European history, surpassing the record set last year. Europe suffered its worst wildfire season on record in 2025, with more than a million hectares of land burned. Zuber noted that this season is not far off last year's situation, adding: "We have the potential that this is another record."
She said the next few days would be "very difficult" and warned the wildfire threat was shifting eastwards after devastating parts of France and the Iberian Peninsula. "The next risk, it's already moving to Greece and also Central Europe," she told reporters. "Greece for the moment was spared, and now we see that it will go to Greece. Italy will face risk at the beginning of August, and we will need to see what will happen with the Iberian Peninsula, because if (it is) there as well, we will have all Europe on fire."
Heatwave worsens conditions
Conditions are set to worsen as a fresh heatwave hits western Europe this week, with temperatures climbing again in France from Tuesday and Spain from Wednesday, according to meteorologists. High temperatures, dry air, wind and a lack of rain help fires ignite and spread rapidly.
In the UK, dozens of firefighters are battling a forest fire at a National Trust site in Suffolk. Around 70 firefighters are at the scene of the blaze in Dunwich Heath, a nature reserve managed by the National Trust since 1968. A major incident has been declared. The UK is experiencing high pressure, which will continue to generate dry, fine and warm conditions before a change of weather type brings a fresher feel by the end of the week.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Paul Gundersen said: "A temperature value of 35°C today will be the seventh day of 2026 when the UK has recorded a value of 35°C or higher. Prior to this year, the record was five days of 35°C or above in a single year set in 1976."
