野火對歐洲及愛爾蘭日益嚴重的威脅

Smoke from the Trévillach wildfire rises behind Mediterranean hills and cypress trees near Perpignan during a major wildfire in southern France in July 2026. Image: © Bruno/Stock.adobe.com

Reflecting on the wildfires that scourged Ireland and Europe this past summer, Eoin Murphy discusses the changing weather patterns and how nature itself may offer protection in the future.

For many, last summer will be remembered for the news footage of wildfires spreading across Europe.

Devastating scenes of fires approaching populated areas as firefighters did everything in their power to slow the spread of the blazing infernos in the hope that the wind would change direction or a small amount of rain would fall.

Climate records tumble

Two of the countries which were most severely hit by the fires this summer were France and Spain. France experienced its worst year for wildfires in the past 15 years and in Spain the area burned was double the 15-year average. These countries together accounted for over 50pc of the area burned across the EU.

In Ireland, the summer of 2026 was the hottest on record. The heat and dry weather led to a partial drought in Oak Park, Co. Carlow lasting for 66 days, breaking the previous record of 62 days stretching back to 1983. Consequently, wildfires broke out in locations across Ireland at levels never seen before.

Slievenamon Mountain viewed from the Copernicus Sentinel 2 satellite in August 2025 compared to August 2026. The consequences of extreme drought and wildfire clearly visible on the landscape. Image: Copernicus Sentinel data (2026)

However, when the data as a whole is examined, there was in fact much less area burned across the European Union in 2026 when compared to the previous summer. Why then does it feel worse? The answer may lie in the fact that wildfires are now threatening densely populated areas previously considered safe, as well as tourist locations.

Scorched Earth

Living in Co Clare, my house wasn’t near any of the locations around Ireland seen to be at risk. But in early August, I travelled to the south-west of France on a family holiday. I knew that we were far enough north that the fires which had devastated the Bordeaux region were not a risk.

Then just before arriving at our campsite, I saw the remains of a scorched field and hedgerow. I subsequently learned that friends of ours who arrived two days earlier had in fact witnessed the fire. Apart from the initial fear which came with seeing the burning field, they like me had felt the immediate instinct to draw their children’s attention away from the fire.

Perhaps this is a natural reaction to something frightening and to a certain degree beyond our control. But if extended drought periods and the accompanying risk of fire are to become a more regular occurrence, will that begin to change how we view the consequences of climate change?

The picture across Europe

Climate scientist and meteorologist Cathal Nolan also saw first-hand the consequences of last summer’s drought across Europe.

In August, Nolan travelled from his home in Offaly to France by car and boat, continuing on to the Dolomites before returning home via Lake Garda and Chamonix. The drought across Europe was evident all along the journey.

Nolan recalls seeing “the trees in their full autumn shade resembled something more like mid-October”, as if the trees had been “going into shut down mode to preserve themselves”.

Cathal Nolan, climate scientist and founder of Ireland’s Weather Channel. Image: Cathal Nolan

Unfortunately, he doesn’t believe that the past summer was an outlier, moreover it may be a sign of what is to come.

In relation to the climate data, Nolan says “the general trend and the move at the moment is for parts of the midlands, east and south of the country to become dryer during the summer months and as a consequence see an increase in drought conditions, an increase in wildfires and higher temperatures”.

The role of technology

One of the most significant changes in the past two decades has been the number of satellites in the sky monitoring the different aspects of both real-time weather data and the longer-term impacts on climate.

Since the launch of Sentinel-1A in 2014, through the Copernicus Programme, the EU has been working on placing more than 20 satellites in space before the end of the decade.

Our ever-developing satellite system will be crucial in combatting the risk factors driving wildfires. According to Nolan, “now we can track in real time the development of severe droughts, we can see the areas which are going to be the most impacted”.

With the data from the vast number of satellites now feeding data in real-time into AI systems, weather forecasting has been transformed in the space of a few years.

Commenting on the role of AI in weather prediction systems, Nolan says “it looks and assesses back in time through every available synoptic chart that’s in existence and through that then transgresses forward and shows us what’s likely to happen over the course of the next seven to 10 days”.

AI has brought about unprecedented improvements in weather prediction models. In June of this year, Prof Andrew Parnell, Met Éireann professor of data science for climate and weather, told an Oireachtas committee that AI “beats the latest weather forecasting systems by 10 to 15pc”.

Nature-based solutions

There are many opinions and beliefs as to why Ireland’s woodlands and countryside have become so vulnerable to the threat of wildfires.

For example, improper land management, monoculture forests and reckless individual behaviour. But regardless of where you stand on this argument, it seems clear that climate change is exposing weaknesses within our systems.

In the face of these challenges, some have been turning to nature-based solutions. One such group, Hometree, works to establish and conserve native woodlands across Ireland.

Their work may prove to be a powerful asset, as around the world native woodlands have been shown to have an increased capacity to resist fire. Ray Ó Foghlú, head of partnerships and development at Hometree says “generally these trees are wetter and the roots are deeper” and “they can get scorched but they won’t burn themselves”.

Ray Ó Foghlú of Hometree pictured near his home in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare. Image: Philip Doyle

A case in point is the wildfire which spread through Killarney National Park last summer.

The blaze, which started due to the illegal use of a barbeque, resulted in the burning of over 20 hectares of the parks vegetation. As tragic as this loss was, it could have been worse. Commenting on the presence of the more mature, healthy oak trees, Ó Foghlú says “the fire hit the edge of the trees and stopped”.

As promising as it was to see the healthy oak trees providing a level of fire resilience within the landscape, Ó Foghlú acknowledged that “there will be a stage on the journey there that’s actually quite fire prone”.

This is due to the preparatory steps taken when preparing land for new trees. Ó Foghlú tells me that the “first rule for growing trees is excluding herbivores in the early stages” and as a result “you are building up a substantial load of flammable material”.

Conscious of the risks, Hometree is actively integrating steps into its plans to mitigate the likelihood that it would impact on others.

One such innovative approach has been used in the past to maintain firebreaks on Howth Head. By introducing goats wearing the Nofence collar system, a herd can be directed to selected strips of land in such a way as to create a buffer zone between the young trees which may pose a risk to the surrounding farmland or commercial forestry.

The commitment and belief shown by groups such as Hometree that nature-based solutions like restoring native woodlands can play in reducing the risks of climate change is clear for all to see. Nevertheless, Ó Foghlú acknowledges that “anyone who works close to the land feels a level of concern and anxiety about what happens next”, but perhaps “fear might lead to action”.

Future fears

If we are to see more urgent action in creating woodlands and countryside which are resilient to the risk of extreme drought and wildfires, it will require a greater focus and investment from government departments. For this to become a reality, it is likely that a greater proportion of society will need to recognise the importance of this investment.

In the 2024 report, Climate Change in the Irish Mind Wave 2 published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 69pc of people in Ireland reported being “not very worried” or “not at all worried” about wildfire causing harm to their local area.

However, with the EPA due to publish Wave 3 of this study in early 2027 based on opinions and beliefs collected between mid-July and mid-August 2026, the results may prove to be different.

Could we see a change in attitude towards the risks posed by wildfires in Ireland? If so, would this lead to the action many believe is now essential? Time will tell.

By Eoin Murphy

Eoin Murphy is a biochemist, educator and award-winning science communicator. He holds a degree in biotechnology as well as master’s degrees in both biochemistry and science and health communication. Murphy has delivered a number of science communication workshops, designed programmes for secondary schools, guest lectured on podcast production as well as featuring regularly on Newstalk’s Science show Futureproof.

He currently holds the role of social media manager for The Mary Mulvihill Association and divides his time between education and working on different science communication projects.

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