Extension of drought conditions in Mediterranean kit countriesa heat wave last The week that arrived in northern Germany and rising fuel costs for Aircraft needed for fight Wildfires have raised fears across Europe this summer.
It is only June.
“Many of continent in Eco-friendly Kathleen Stove said science professor At the Dutch University of Wageningen, who The wildfire forecast has been described as “extremely challenging across Europe”.
fires last summer blackening more Over 11,000 square kilometers (4,250 sq mi) of Earth – area more of four times the size of Luxembourg. Around half of damage was in European Union.
Experts say wildfires in Europe are not just a problem for Southern is hotter countries.
Who are the scholars? warning us is that (the fires) continue north And the in countries like the UK, in countries Like Germany as well in Scandinavian countries in The futurewe need To predict forest fires more Catherine Jumper, Climate Change Adaptation Specialist at FAO for Economic cooperation and development.
Forest fires across Spain have destroyed tens of in thousands of acre of Woodlands, though it’s been sharp lately drop in Temperatures help firefighters contain it.
Spain problems seem with The arrival in fountain of As soon as possible heat wave in two decades. Temperatures as high as those normally recorded in August rose above 40 °C (104 °F) in Many Spanish cities.
Neighboring Portugal also May saw the warmest in Nine decades and in The month in France was the hottest on record.
“K result of Climate change , heat The waves started early and became more frequent and more severe because of of record concentrations of heatThe World Meteorological Organization said last week.
“What we are witnessing today is a bad omen of The future. “
Despite extensive planning, early warning of observation and forecasting modelsplan for Forest fires remains enormous challenge. The European Union is expanding a common area pool of Airplanes and helicopters on Prepare this summer to deliver cross-border support Is expected to be a partner with more Countries outside Bloc.
“It is very difficult to predict wildfires,” said Marta Arbinolo of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. policy analyst and Climate Resilience Specialist.
“We do know that summer (of2022 expected by weather Especially hot and dry weather forecast, maybe even more From 2020 or 21, which was the driest and warmest summer in She said “Europe.” We can expect that risk of Forest fires in Europe for Summer may be too high.”
In Greece, some suffered of Europe’s most devastating fires last August, authorities say higher Its fuel costs added to me challenges facing The fire Highly Dependent Service on water drop planes for battle fires in mountain country.
Greece will begin using fire Inhibiting chemicals in This water drop yearwhile the European Union sends more From 200 firefighters and equipment From France, Germany and four other countries countries to Greece remain All summer.
wildfire seasons also get longer.
“Concept of a fire The season is losing its meaning now. we have the fire the whole season year-round Victor Risco de Dios said, professor of Forest Engineering at the University of Lleida, in Catalonia, northeastern Spain regionthat was hit hard summer fires.
“The main changes we see with Climate change is longer of fire seasons.”
Laura Villagra, senior Catalonia government officialat a regional conference that fire Prevention measures this season could include closing parks.
“The weather All year he is more On the contrary, the drought is very evident this year. “We are very expecting complicated the summer.”
Risco expects bleak future in Spain, under the pretext of those areas currently Those affected by the fires ‘Probably won’t happen experience Many fires in turn of The century. why? Because forests will be extremely rare. There will be nothing left to burn.”
Other experts are not bleak.
Gamper and Arbinolo Point in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development out This is some of The worst of the fires actually brought positive developments such as the EU Civil Protection Mechanism that facilitates rapid cooperation between countries in Emergency cases. European countries argue, hmm also Opening up To merge risk shorthand in their planning, rather than just enhancing firefighting resources.
“Essence is need for built in fire Management, take care of all the fire year round instead of just When it dries, invest in Stoff said.
Gamber resume for Two things she said would have a huge impact. First, reconsider urban planning by not doing so building near the forest of Intense risk.
“I think we have first Sort of appeals to countries It’s really thinking about where you’re going to continue settling down,” Jumper said.
“secondly of Everything, enforce your own regulations. countries know What do I do.”
