Europe Faces Growing Wildfire Crisis Amidst Unpreparedness

A recent report highlights that Europe is inadequately prepared to confront a rising wildfire crisis, necessitating significant improvements in firefighting capabilities and investment. Commissioned by Avincis, a Portugal-based company specializing in leasing firefighting aircraft, the report indicates that climate change, declining rural populations, and the accumulation of burnable vegetation are contributing to an escalating risk of wildfires across southern Europe. The report, prepared by the consulting firm Lead by Thought, notes that wildfires, traditionally occurring from early June to mid-September, are now starting earlier and extending later into the year.

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The report reveals that wildfires are spreading northward, with Sweden experiencing a dramatic increase in burned areas—1,100 hectares last year, representing a 120% rise above the recent average. Other countries, including Finland and Denmark, also reported wildfire incidents exceeding their long-term averages. In 2025, wildfires devastated 1.03 million hectares of forest across the European Union, marking the highest level since records began. Spain was particularly hard hit, with 393,079 hectares burned, followed by Portugal, Romania, Italy, Greece, and France.

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In response to these alarming trends, the European Commission is set to propose a new strategy aimed at enhancing early prevention and reducing fire risks. The EU has committed 600 million euros (approximately $694.56 million) in 2024 to acquire 12 DHC-515 amphibious firefighting aircraft, which are expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2030. However, production challenges have arisen, as Brian Chafe, CEO of De Havilland Canada, noted that bureaucratic delays are hindering efforts to scale up aircraft production.

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The report also emphasizes a critical shortage of skilled workers in the firefighting sector. It points out that foreign pilots seeking employment within the EU face a cumbersome licensing process, requiring over a dozen exams to obtain an EU Aviation Safety Agency license, in stark contrast to the one or two exams required in the United States or Australia. This regulatory burden exacerbates the existing challenges in bolstering firefighting resources.

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• “There is no question that fire seasons are getting longer. The window for transporting aircraft from one hemisphere to another is getting smaller, forcing the available global aerial-firefighting fleet into decline,” — John Boag, Group CEO of Avincis

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• “We're trying to start a second production line, but government bureaucracies are very slow,” — Brian Chafe, CEO of De Havilland Canada

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As Europe grapples with the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, the findings of this report underscore the urgent need for strategic investments and reforms in firefighting capabilities. The combination of climate change impacts and regulatory hurdles presents a formidable challenge that requires immediate attention to safeguard communities and ecosystems across the continent.

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