Wildfire Map Spotlight: Southern Europe Wildfires

Where are the wildfires located?

As of July 8, 2026, active wildfires are burning across multiple countries in southern Europe. Combined, the blazes have scorched more than 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres), an area more than twice the size of Manhattan (1).

The fires follow a record-breaking heatwave in June, with temperatures expected to remain high in coming days. European policymakers have warned of extreme wildfire danger throughout July and August.

Which countries are affected by the wildfires?

Active wildfires are currently affecting the following countries across southern Europe:

What is the current containment status of the wildfires?

Containment status varies across the affected countries. Firefighting efforts are ongoing, with thousands of personnel, hundreds of vehicles, and dozens of aircraft deployed across the region. The EU has made its largest-ever deployment of cross-border emergency crews to high-risk areas (2).

Weather conditions remain particularly unfavorable, with strong winds, high temperatures, and low humidity continuing to hamper containment efforts across multiple fronts. Authorities have warned that the wildfire season started roughly two to three weeks earlier than usual (3).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation orders and alerts are in place across several affected countries. Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from communities near active fire fronts (4).

In some areas, residents have been urged to remain indoors with windows and doors closed due to heavy or toxic smoke, including near Thessaloniki, Greece, where a burning recycling plant produced hazardous fumes (4).

Authorities across the region continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, follow all official evacuation and safety instructions, and avoid any activities that could start or spread fires (5).