2025 European and Mediterranean wildfires#Greece

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}

{{Infobox wildfire

| title = 2025 European wildfires

| image = Multiple Wildfires Scorch Chios, Greece (MODIS 2025-06-25).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = A satellite image of smoke from a wildfire on the Greek island of Chios

| location = Europe

| reference =

| total_fires =

| total_area =

| fatalities = 6{{efn|Spain: 3
Turkey: 3}}

| injuries = 126+{{efn|France: 119+
Spain: 5
Germany: 2}}

| missing =

| evacuated = 57,500+{{efn|Turkey: 52,000+
Greece: 5,000+
France: 400
Germany: 100}}

| livestock =

| structures =

| cost =

}}

Since June 2025, parts of Europe have been affected by wildfires, with Mediterranean countries affected the most. The fires were exacerbated by a record-breaking heatwave which saw extreme temperatures across the continent throughout June and into July. At least six people have been killed by fires, hundreds injured and tens of thousands evacuated; among the worst-hit countries were France, Greece, Spain and Turkey.

By country

=Albania=

On 1 July, a fire started in the municipality of Finiq after a pine tree fell on power lines.{{Cite news |date=2 July 2025 |title=Zjarri në një pyll në Finiq, shkak rënia e një pishe mbi telat e linjës së energjisë elektrike |url=https://gazeta-shqip.com/aktualiteti/zjarri-ne-nje-pyll-ne-finiq-shkak-renia-e-nje-pishe-mbi-telat-e-linjes-se-energjise-elektrike/ |access-date=6 July 2025 |work=Gazeta Shqip |language=sq}} On 6 July, Greece sent two Canadair CL-415 aircraft to the area to assist with firefighting efforts.{{Cite news |date=6 July 2025 |title=Η Ελλάδα στέλνει στην Αλβανία δύο Canadair για τη μεγάλη πυρκαγιά στη Λέσνιτσα |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/foreign-policy/563701441/i-ellada-stelnei-stin-alvania-dyo-canadair-gia-ti-megali-dasiki-pyrkagia-sti-lesnitsa/ |access-date=6 July 2025 |work=Kathimerini |language=el}}

=Croatia=

On 21 June, a large wildfire started in Pisak and quickly spread to nearby villages. The fire burned around {{cvt|290|ha}} before it was brought under control the following day by around 200 firefighters.{{Cite news |date=22 June 2025 |title=Požari na hrvatskom primorju pod kontrolom, traga se za piromanima |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/articles/cwyx5re1xrjo/lat |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=BBC News Serbian |language=sr}} Numerous citizens and tourists were evacuated and part of the Adriatic Highway was closed; a number of citizens and firefighters were injured and several houses were destroyed in Marušići, Mimice and Pisak.{{Cite news |date=21 June 2025 |title=Požar kod Omiša pod kontrolom, pred vatrogascima budna noć |url=https://balkans.aljazeera.net/video/2025/6/21/pozar-kod-omisa-pod-kontrolom-pred-vatrogascima-budna-noc |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Al Jazeera Balkans |language=sh}} In Marušići, an olive oil refinery, one of the largest in the country, was also destroyed.{{Cite news |date=21 June 2025 |title=Požar zahvatio jednu od najvećih uljara u Hrvatskoj: "Urušio se krov, nitko ne može ući..." |url=https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/direktor-uljare-orgula-potvrdio-da-je-izgorjela-u-pozaru---920197.html |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Dnevnik.hr |language=hr}}

=France=

File:Wildfire near Bizanet, France (Copernicus 2025-07-06).png

On 29 June, a large fire started in Corbières due to a poorly extinguished barbeque and spread to over {{cvt|400|ha}}. The A61 autoroute was closed and homes and a campsite were evacuated as over 600 firefighters, nine of whom were injured, fought the blaze and brought it under control the following day.{{Cite news |date=1 July 2025 |title=Incendie dans l'Aude : le suspect, qui transportait un barbecue mal éteint, mis en examen et placé en détention provisoire |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2025/07/01/incendie-dans-l-aude-le-suspect-mis-en-examen-et-place-en-detention-provisoire_6617289_3244.html |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Le Monde |language=fr}}

On 7 July, a fire started near Narbonne and spread to over {{cvt|2000|ha}}, forcing the evacuation of a hamlet and the closure of the A9 autoroute. By 9 July, several houses had been damaged whilst around 1,070 firefighters fought the flames, five of whom had been injured. The fire also destroyed a stable, killing a number of horses.{{Cite news |date=9 July 2025 |title=Incendie de forêt près de Narbonne : 2.000 hectares parcourus, l'A9 toujours fermée et des habitants évacués |url=https://www.lamontagne.fr/narbonne-11100/faits-divers/incendie-de-foret-pres-de-narbonne-2-000-hectares-parcourus-l-a9-toujours-fermee-et-des-habitants-evacues_14718002/ |access-date=9 July 2025 |work=La Montagne |language=fr}}

On 8 July, a wildfire started in Les Pennes-Mirabeau and spread rapidly, prompting the closure of the A50 and A55 autoroutes and Marseille Provence Airport as train services heading north and west of Marseille were suspended. Marseille's 15th arrondissement was evacuated and operations at the airport resumed after 9:30 p.m. once Canadair aircraft were grounded for the night. Around 600 people lost power due to the fire in the 16th arrondissement and Les Pennes-Mirabeau, whilst 70 people were displaced from a nursing home in the latter. The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, said that some 110 people had been injured during the fire, which had affected 63 homes and destroyed at least 10. He also said over 800 firefighters were tackling the blaze, at least nine of whom had been injured.{{Cite news |date=8 July 2025 |title=Incendie à Marseille : "Le feu n'est pas fixé, le travail des pompiers va durer toute la nuit", annonce Bruno Retailleau |url=https://www.laprovence.com/article/faits-divers-justice/6385505788801514/direct-laprovence-direct-incendie-aux-pennes-mirabeau-avions-cloues-au-sol-trains-a-l-arret-30-hectares-parcourus-suivez-l-evolution |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=La Provence |language=fr}}

=Germany=

File:Gohrischheide Waldbrand Juli 2025.jpg

On 1 July, a wildfire started in Gohrischheide on the border of Saxony and Brandenburg, leading to the evacuation of over 100 people as two firefighters were injured.{{Cite news |last=Jensch |first=Nele |date=3 July 2025 |title=Wildfires in eastern Germany injure firefighters and force evacuations |url=https://apnews.com/article/germany-wildfires-gohrischheide-village-evacuations-1384197a5922b13c88c9713f08eb8faf |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=AP News}} Another fire started in Thuringia the following day in Saalfelder Höhe and grew to become the largest in the state since 1993. By 4 July, a total of 1,000 firefighters had been deployed between the two sites and several communities including Gröditz were under a disaster alert.{{Cite news |last=Berry |first=Alex |date=4 July 2025 |title=1,000 firefighters deployed against blazes in Saxony, Thuringia |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-updates-1000-firefighters-tackle-wildfires-in-east/live-73152068#liveblog-post-73152809 |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Deutsche Welle}}

=Greece=

File:Wildfire emergency on Chios, Greece (Copernicus 2025-06-24).png, taken by the Sentinel-2 satellite on 23 June]]

On 22 June, five fires started on the island of Chios, leading to the evacuation of 17 communities as a state of emergency was declared;{{Cite news |last1=Papanikolaou |first1=Nikos |last2=Wertheimer |first2=Tiffany |date=23 June 2025 |title=Wildfires rage on Greek island of Chios |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz09lmngyv2o |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=BBC News}} it was tackled by 444 firefighters and several aircraft as it burned over {{cvt|10000|acre}}, with a woman being arrested for unintentional arson.{{Cite news |date=26 June 2025 |title=Woman arrested over wildfires which raged for three days on the Greek island of Chios |url=https://news.sky.com/story/woman-arrested-over-wildfires-which-raged-for-three-days-on-the-greek-island-of-chios-13388813 |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Sky News}} Another large fire destroyed at least 20 homes amidst high winds and temperatures of up to {{cvt|40|C}} in the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, with over 1,000 people being evacuated and at least 40 having to be rescued by police.{{Cite news |last=Papanikolaou |first=Nikos |date=26 June 2025 |title=Homes burn in Greece as wildfire sweeps through coastal towns |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1k8jxdyj0go |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=BBC News}}

On 3 July, a wildfire which started the previous day near Ierapetra on the island of Crete forced the evacuation of over 1,500 people as it was fought by around 230 firefighters and 46 vehicles; around 5,000 tourists were also believed to have evacuated independently. Another fire in the Chalkidiki region was being fought by 160 firefighters and 49 vehicles.{{Cite news |last1=Henley |first1=Jon |last2=Giuffrida |first2=Angela |date=3 July 2025 |title=Crete wildfire forces 1,500 to evacuate as Europe heatwave continues |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/03/more-than-1500-people-evacuated-in-crete-amid-wildfire-as-europe-heatwave-continues |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=The Guardian}} A fire in Rafina forced the evacuation of four settlements and damaged at least six houses as it spread to Pikermi and Spata.{{Cite news |last=Stamatopoulou |first=Anastasia |date=4 July 2025 |title="Οι πυροσβέστες μπήκαν κυριολεκτικά μέσα στη φωτιά" |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563697724/oi-pyrosvestes-mpikan-kyriolektika-mesa-sti-fotia/ |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Kathimerini |language=el}}

On 4 July, a wildfire started near Koropi and damaged some houses, leading to the evacuation of Agios Dimitrios as 120 firefighters fought the fire, supported by 30 vehicles, eight aircraft and eight helicopters.{{Cite news |date=4 July 2025 |title=Φωτιά στον Αγιο Δημήτριο Κορωπίου – Στη μάχη εναέρια μέσα, ήχησε το «112» |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563698111/fotia-ston-agio-dimitrio-koropioy-sti-machi-kai-enaeria-mesa-ichise-to-112/ |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Kathimerini |language=el}} A large fire broke out on the island of Evia and forced the evacuation of Limnionas and Tsakaioi as over 160 firefighters fought the blaze;{{Cite news |date=5 July 2025 |title=Εύβοια: Καλύτερη η εικόνα της φωτιάς στην Κάρυστο – Μάχη με τις αναζωπυρώσεις |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563700469/eyvoia-kalyteri-i-eikona-tis-fotias-stin-karysto-machi-me-tis-anazopyroseis/ |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Kathimerini |language=el}} it spread to {{cvt|10000|acre}} and a 52-year-old was arrested the following day.{{Cite news |date=5 July 2025 |title=Συνελήφθη 52χρονος για την πυρκαγιά στα Μεσοχώρια Ευβοίας |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563700805/synelifthi-52chronos-gia-tin-pyrkagia-sta-mesochoria-eyvoias/ |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Kathimerini |language=el}}

On 7 July, a wildfire started in Kozani and spread close to the University of Western Macedonia, prompting its evacuation; three aircraft and a helicopter were involved as the fire reached some houses.{{Cite news |date=7 July 2025 |title=Φωτιά στην Κοζάνη, κοντά στην Πανεπιστημιούπολη – 112 για εκκένωση |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563702053/fotia-stin-kozani-minyma-112-gia-ekkenosi/ |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=Kathimerini |language=el}}

=Montenegro=

On 2 July, a wildfire broke out near Gornje Crkvice in Nikšić Municipality, close to the border with Bosnia's Republika Srpska, and threatened a number of homes. Firefighters were reportedly still fighting the blaze on 4 July.{{Cite news |last=Mandić |first=Svetlana |date=4 July 2025 |title=Nikšićki vatrogasci treći dan gase šumski požar kod Gornjih Crkvica |url=https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/765244/niksicki-vatrogasci-treci-dan-gase-sumski-pozar-kod-gornjih-crkvica |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Vijesti |language=cnr}}

=Netherlands=

On 3 April, a large wildfire broke out in the Veluwe near Ede during a Ministry of Defence exercise involving smoke grenades. The fire spread quickly due to strong winds, leading to around 500 firefighters attending the blaze as roads were closed and a small number of houses were evacuated; a total of {{cvt|130|ha}} was burned.{{Cite news |last=van Dam |first=Erik |date=4 April 2025 |title=130 hectare verwoest bij heidebrand in Ede, dit weten we tot nu toe |url=https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8292940/130-hectare-verwoest-bij-heidebrand-in-ede-dit-weten-we-tot-nu-toe |access-date=6 July 2025 |work=Omroep Gelderland |language=nl}} On 12 April, a wildfire occurred in De Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park, burning {{cvt|42|ha}} before it was brought under control by over 100 firefighters.{{Cite news |last1=El Bakkali |first1=Lina |last2=Cardoen |first2=Sandra |date=4 April 2025 |title=Natuurbrand in Drunen net over grens met Nederland onder controle, brandweer moet wel nog nablussen |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/04/12/brand-drunen-nederland/ |access-date=6 July 2025 |work=VRT NWS |language=nl}}

=Portugal=

On 29 June, a fire broke out in a forested area of Castelo Branco; by midnight it was being fought by 175 personnel, 57 vehicles and seven aircraft. Another fire in a forested area of Torres Novas was fought by 107 firefighters and 32 vehicles.{{Cite news |date=29 June 2025 |title=Incêndio em Castelo Branco mobiliza mais de 170 operacionais |url=https://www.publico.pt/2025/06/29/azul/noticia/180-operacionais-nove-meios-aereos-combatem-fogo-castelo-branco-2138305 |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Público |language=pt}}

=Spain=

File:The Torrefeta i Florejacs fire, Catalonia, Spain (Copernicus 2025-07-05).png

On 1 July, a large wildfire started in the municipality of Torrefeta i Florejacs in the Province of Lleida and spread to burn around {{cvt|5300|ha}}. Two people were killed in Oliola after their vehicle got stuck whilst they were trying to escape and a firefighter was injured in Coscó; around 20,000 people were under a lockdown before the fire was declared stabilised shortly after 10:30 p.m. on 2 July.{{Cite news |last1=Carranco |first1=Rebeca |last2=Lopez Congostrina |first2=Alfonso |date=2 July 2025 |title=Un incendio de sexta generación y a velocidad de récord deja un granjero y un trabajador muertos en Lleida |url=https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2025-07-02/el-primer-gran-incendio-del-ano-en-cataluna-deja-un-granjero-y-un-trabajador-muertos-en-lleida.html |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=El País |language=es}} On 2 July, a local politician died whilst trying to help a tractor driver whose vehicle had started a small wildfire in the municipality of San Cristovo de Cea.{{Cite news |date=2 July 2025 |title=Muere un concejal del PP al ayudar a sofocar un incendio en San Cristovo de Cea, en Ourense |url=https://elpais.com/espana/galicia/2025-07-02/muere-una-persona-en-el-incendio-forestal-de-san-cristovo-de-cea-en-ourense.html |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=El País |language=es}}

On 8 July, a large fire in Baix Ebre spread to over {{cvt|3100|ha}} and lead to the lockdown of over 18,000 people as it spread to the Els Ports Natural Park and left four firefighters injured.{{Cite news |last=Márquez Daniel |first=Carlos |date=8 July 2025 |title=Bombers avisa de un fuego de "larga duración" si las llamas asaltan el parque natural de Els Ports |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/tarragona/20250708/10868954/bombers-avisa-fuego-larga-duracion-llamas-saltan-parque-natural-els-ports.html |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=La Vanguardia |language=es}}

=Syria=

On 3 July, a number of forest fires broke out near the Turkish border in Latakia Governorate. Fires in the Qastal Ma'af area moved close to villages, prompting the evacuation of multiple areas.{{Cite news |date=5 July 2025 |title=Syrian authorities evacuate citizens amid major forest fires |url=https://jordantimes.com/news/region/syrian-authorities-evacuate-citizens-amid-major-forest-fires |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=The Jordan Times}} On 5 July, Turkey sent two aircraft and eleven vehicles to Syria to help them fight the fires.{{Cite news |date=5 July 2025 |title=Turkey sends firefighting aircraft to Syria as wildfires rage on both sides of the border |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkey-sends-firefighting-aircraft-syria-wildfires-rage-sides-123496609 |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=ABC News}} By 6 July, the fires had consumed over 3% of Syria's total forested land, based on 2023 forest cover figures of approximately 5,270 km², in just three days.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/06/middleeast/wildfires-syria-coast-major-test-for-new-government-intl |title=Wildfires sweep through forests in drought-hit Syrian coast in major test for new government |publisher=CNN |date=6 July 2025 }} By 8 July, the blazes had destroyed over 14,000 hectares of forest and farmland.{{cite web |url=https://levant24.com/news/national/2025/07/latakia-firestorm-syria-battles-blazes-with-regional-and-international-support/ |title=Latakia Firestorm: Syria Battles Blazes With Regional and International Support |publisher=levant24.com |date=9 July 2025 }} In the meantime, at least 38 square miles of vegetation were destroyed.{{cite web |last=Shahin |first=Kamal |url=https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/forest-fires-and-accusations-in-the-new-syria/ |title=Forest Fires and Accusations in the New Syria |publisher=New Lines Magazine |date=9 July 2025 }} The rapid spread of the fires was fueled by extreme heat, prolonged drought, strong winds, and the rugged terrain of the coastal mountains. Efforts to contain the fires were further hampered by the presence of unexploded ordnance from the civil war and limited firefighting resources.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-wildfires-latakia-wind-temperatures-0a367cfa0449179c04d046d511ede26d |title=Syrian wildfires spread due to heavy winds and war remnants |publisher=AP News |date=8 July 2025 }}

Firefighting teams from Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan joined the efforts, while the Syrian government appealed to the EU for support.{{cite web |last=Blackburn |first=Gavin |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/07/08/syria-issues-appeal-to-eu-for-help-battling-massive-wildfires-along-northwestern-coast |title=Syria issues appeal to EU for help battling massive wildfires along northwestern coast |publisher=Euronews |date=8 July 2025 }} On 10 July, the United Nations allocated $625,000 in emergency aid to assist affected communities, with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent coordinating relief efforts.{{cite web |url=https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=363763 |title=The UN allocates $ 625 thousand to support urgent response efforts for people affected by the forest fires |publisher=SANA |date=10 July 2025 }}

=Turkey=

{{main|2025 İzmir wildfires}}{{See also|Wildfires in Turkey}}

On 29 June, amid high temperatures and strong winds of up to {{cvt|117|kph}}, a series of wildfires broke out across the country, mostly in İzmir Province. They forced the evacuation of over 50,000 people from 41 settlements around the province and operations at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport were temporarily suspended.{{Cite news |date=30 June 2025 |title=Turkiye battles wildfires in Izmir for second day, 50,000 people evacuated |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/30/firefighters-in-turkiye-battle-to-contain-wildfires-that-threaten |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Al Jazeera}} Three people were killed by wildfires near Ödemiş: an 81-year-old bedridden man and two people who were working with firefighters to tackle the fire. The fires in İzmir were brought under control on 4 July, having destroyed around {{cvt|5000|ha}} and some 200 houses.{{Cite news |date=5 July 2025 |title=Turkiye's Izmir, Hatay and Syria's Latakia regions affected by wildfires |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/5/izmir-villages-in-turkiye-affected-by-wildfires-now-under-control |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Al Jazeera}}

On 4 July, a fire broke out in a forest in Dörtyol and spread quickly due to strong winds. By the next day almost 2,000 people had been evacuated in Hatay Province whilst over 1,000 emergency personnel worked to fight the blaze.{{Cite news |date=5 July 2025 |title=Turkey sends firefighting aircraft to Syria as wildfires rage on both sides of the border |url=https://apnews.com/article/turkey-syria-wildfires-latakia-hatay-f6ebf56bdffe4b0f799dfbe1bc9230d2 |access-date=6 July 2025 |work=AP News}}

=United Kingdom=

{{main|2025 United Kingdom wildfires}}

The United Kingdom saw its worst year on record for wildfires, which was exacerbated by an unprecedented lack of rainfall throughout spring; this record was broken exceptionally early in the year after the total area burned by wildfires surpassed {{cvt|29000|ha|acre sqmi km2}} in late April.{{Cite news |last1=Poynting |first1=Mark |last2=Rivault |first2=Erwan |date=27 April 2025 |title=Area burned by UK wildfires in 2025 already at annual record |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m9gm3jwljo |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=BBC News}} As of 3 July, over {{cvt|43548|ha|acre sqmi km2}} has been burnt, surpassing the previous annual record set in 2019 by more than {{cvt|14000|ha}}; it has also had the highest number of fires larger than {{cvt|30|ha}} at 175, an increase of 24 from the previous record set in 2022.{{Cite web |title=EFFIS Annual Statistics for United Kingdom |url=https://forest-fire.emergency.copernicus.eu/apps/effis.statistics/estimates/GBR |access-date=4 July 2025 |website=EFFIS}}

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References