Will the fires spare Albania this summer? - August brings the biggest challenge for civil emergencies. So far, the balance is better than last year
August has historically been the most challenging month for civil emergencies, due to the “explosion” of a significant number of large wildfires across the country. But will this year be a better one in terms of the fire management situation?
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System, 2,297 hectares of land have burned so far as a result of high temperatures, carelessness by citizens in starting fires to burn grass and waste near their homes, which spread further in drought conditions, or as a direct result of deliberate arson. A total of 18 large fires have been reported so far.
However, compared to the same period a year ago where 207 houses were affected, of which 40 were completely destroyed, the situation appears more positive in the first weeks of August this year, with minimal damage to homes.
After 2007, 2025 was the second worst year in Albania's history in terms of the large area of forest burned by fires. Data shows that 60 thousand hectares of land were burned last year by 132 fires. 2007 holds the first place with 127 thousand hectares of scorched area, while the largest number of fires was recorded during the hot months of 2017. Despite having a smaller number of fires than in 2017, 2007 had the largest area burned.
But which areas have been most affected this year?
Mallakastra, Kruja, Priska e Madhe, Dajti, Cikalleshi in Kavaja, Vilëza in Kurbin, Përmeti and Malësia e Madhe have experienced the largest outbreaks so far. In other words, the Tirana, Durrës and Fier regions have been the most affected.
Firefighters, police structures, and Armed Forces personnel have been engaged to extinguish the fires in these areas, while 4 helicopters, Cougar and Black Hawk, as well as 2 "Air Tractor" aircraft of the Air Force have also been used.
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