Burning issue: What Europe’s wildfires can teach Ireland

Ireland is unlikely to experience the vast pine forest fires associated with southern Europe. But we are far from immune. Every year, fires affect upland heath, gorse, forestry and peatlands, particularly during prolonged dry spells

A firefighting helicopter flies over a forest wildfire, dumping water from a bucket to help tackle the blaze. Europe is warming faster than any other continent, and hotter summers are increasing what fire scientists call ‘fire weather’, periods of prolonged heat, dry vegetation and strong winds that favour rapid fire growth. Picture: iStock

Every summer seems to come with the same unsettling images. Hillsides ablaze. Towns and villages evacuated. Firefighters working through the night while aircraft circle overhead, dropping water on flames that seem impossible to contain. This week has been no different, with wildfires affecting parts of France, Spain, Portugal and Greece after prolonged heat and strong winds created dangerous fire conditions. Watching from Ireland, it's easy to think of wildfire as someone else's problem. Mediterranean countries have always had hot summers. Surely this is simply what happens when temperatures climb above 40°C. The science suggests something more complicated.

Fire is, in many ways, a natural ecological process. Long before humans arrived, lightning ignited fires that shaped landscapes, recycled nutrients and influenced the evolution of plants. Many Mediterranean species are remarkably well adapted to periodic burning. Some pines only release their seeds after exposure to intense heat, while other shrubs quickly regenerate after fire. In the right place, at the right time and frequency, fire can even help maintain biodiversity. The problem isn't fire itself. It's when fire behaves in ways that ecosystems and communities struggle to cope with.