Europe is grappling with a historic wildfire season as extreme heat continues to fuel massive blazes across the continent.
Since May, Europe has faced relentless wildfires and extreme heat, with more than 1,200 fires already reported this year, double the usual annual average. In France, a major blaze near Bordeaux has devastated over 40,000 hectares, four times the size of Paris, prompting an EU-wide emergency response.
Officials warn that emergency resources are overstretched and must be mobilized faster in the face of escalating climate-related disasters.
"France was dealing with other fires in different areas of the country, basically in the southeast, for this reason the aerial capacity of France was involved in other fires," said Moises Galan Santano, a wildfires expert at the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Center.
The EU has deployed over 10 planes and helicopters from across its 27 member states, and satellites from the Copernicus service are mapping fire impacts to help ground crews. However, rapid deployment remains a challenge.
"The resources are not coming from the town besides, it's coming from another continent and it takes time to prepare all the aerial resources to be deployed and for this decision, it takes at least one day," said Galan Santano.
The total area burned this year now rivals the size of Luxembourg -- more than 250,000 hectares -- putting mounting strain on Europe's ability to respond as wildfires close in on urban centers.
"If you need to combine protecting people, thinking about the evacuation plans, thinking about looking at how for example the emission of CO2 can affect this. So this is something that is new and definitely something that will be looking at how to better prepare for the next season," said Maria Zuber, head of unit at the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Center.
Europe is warming faster than any other continent, and officials warn such devastating wildfire seasons may become the new normal. Those tasked with coordinating the response say more adaptation is needed to keep pace with a rapidly changing climate.
Record wildfires scorch Europe amid relentless heatwave
