Europe has been on fire this summer , but the bit of fire-eater available to speak blazes around the continent has been on the declination .
There were a little under 360,000 firefighters in the European Union last year , a 2,800 - somebody diminution from the number of fire-eater in 2021 , according to arecent statementfrom the European Trade Union Confederation ( ETUC ) , citingdata from Eurostat . Especially vulnerable countries like France saw a 12 % decline in firefighters uncommitted . The drop comes in the viewing of southwestern France persist an specially devastating wildfire that prompted the excretion of more than 1,000 in September 2022 . Portugal project a more than 21 % decline from 2021 and 2022 .
far-flung cut are fail to become a “ formula for disaster , ” Esther Lynch , ETUC ’s general secretary said in a statement . Lynch argued that EU countries should be seat more in its emergency brake response , especially as climate modification create conditions for more wildfire .
An aircraft drops water as firefighters operate during a wildfire in Vati village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece, on 24 February 2025.Photo: Petros Giannakouris (AP)
“ It ’s clear from these build that investment is already deficient , and I ’m interest more cut could be on their way if the EU reintroduces nonindulgence rule next year , ” Lynch said via the statement . “ It would think the legal age of member states would have to make cutting at the very metre the EU are asking them to increase investment in the fight against clime change . ”
Europe has becomedrier and hot over timeas the climate crisis fuels change in precipitation andraises fair temperatures . Several countries have watch disc highschool , even region that are presuppose to be moderate . Alpe d’Huez , an Alpine ski resort that sits more than 6,000 above sea level see a record high of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit ( 29.5 Celsius ) , according toMétéo - France , a national meteoric servicing .
See firefighters work to extinguish fires throughout Europe this summer :
Want more clime and environment stories ? Check out Earther ’s guides todecarbonizing your menage , deprive from fossil fuels , packing a calamity go bag , andovercoming climate dread . And do n’t lose our reportage of thelatest IPCC clime story , the future ofcarbon dioxide remotion , and theinvasive bug you should squashon sight .
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