Significant increase in number of wildfires across Ireland last year

Last year’s wildfires in the Republic covered an area of 5,013ha, mostly on natural open spaces with sparse vegetation — up from 200 ha the previous year. File picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

There was a significant increase in the number of wildfires and burnt areas of land in Ireland last year as new figures show 2025 was the EU’s most destructive wildfire season on record.

More than 5,000 hectares (ha) of land were burnt by wildfires in the Republic during 2025 after a comparatively low level of incidents the previous year.