Europe Warned It Is Unprepared for Escalating Wildfires

Avincis, Europe's largest provider of aerial firefighting and air rescue services, has warned that Europe is unprepared for increasingly long and severe wildfire seasons.

The company's CEO, John Boag, said the peak wildfire season, which once lasted three to four months, now stretches from early spring through the fall. As a result, firefighting aircraft can no longer be redeployed to the Southern Hemisphere during the European winter.

The lengthening wildfire seasons worldwide, combined with regulatory hurdles, are creating a serious regional shortage of firefighting aircraft and experienced pilots.

The situation in both southern and northern Europe has been exacerbated by wet winters, which encourage vegetation growth that becomes highly combustible during the summer heat. Avincis, which operates in Spain and Portugal, logged more than 5,000 flight hours this year, more than double the total for the same period in 2025.

However, deliveries of new Canadair firefighting aircraft are not expected until 2028, while the development of new amphibious aircraft is likely to take several more years. Boag therefore called on governments to provide long-term funding and urged the European Union to simplify the recognition of licenses for foreign and military pilots.

(Reuters, Max)