Wildfires have scorched more than one million hectares of land across the European Union so far in 2025, the largest burned area recorded since the European Forest Fire Information System began compiling data in 2006. The unprecedented destruction — equivalent to roughly 10,000 square kilometres or 2.5 million acres — follows successive heatwaves that left much of the continent tinder-dry. Spain has been the hardest-hit EU member state. The civil protection service estimates around 348,000 hectares have gone up in flames this year, while some regional tallies put the figure closer to 400,000. Four people have died. Civil-protection chief Virginia Barcones said only 18 blazes remain active and that “the end is much nearer,” citing cooler, more humid weather that has helped thousands of firefighters gain the upper hand. Neighbouring Portugal reported a fourth wildfire fatality on Saturday after a firefighter injured during operations in Sabugal, near the Spanish border, died of his wounds. The fires have burned roughly 216,000 hectares, forced evacuations in several central villages and mobilised more than 2,000 personnel nationwide, according to emergency-services data. The 2025 season underscores scientists’ warnings that Europe is warming faster than the global average, lengthening periods of extreme heat and drying vegetation. Fire-service unions and environmental groups are pressing national capitals and Brussels for larger prevention budgets and stronger climate-adaptation measures ahead of next year’s fire season.