Overview

• The European Forest Fire Information System recorded 2023 as one of the most severe wildfire years since 2000.
• A massive wildfire near Alexandroupolis, Greece, became the largest ever recorded in the EU.
• Human activities, such as discarded cigarettes, are responsible for approximately 96% of wildfires in the EU.
• Educational campaigns are crucial as climate change leads to more frequent and intense fires, even in new areas.
• Despite severe fires in 2023, early 2024 saw a reduction in burned areas due to favorable rainfall in the EU.