Fires, calmer summer than 2025 - Less burned area, minimal damage to homes. 132 large fires in total
Despite the fact that fires were inevitable, this summer there were fewer hectares of burned area than last year. Closer coordination between prefectures, municipalities and all structures of the civil protection system, as well as the engagement of operational forces, local, fire and military forces, have influenced, among other things, the better management and positive balance of fires in 2026.
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System, 37,706 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 132 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.
What were the most affected areas this year?
The month of August began with a wave of fires in Mallakastër, Krujë, Priskë e Madhe, Dajt, Cikallesh in Kavajë, Vilëz in Kurbin, Përmet and Malësi e Madhe. The regions of Tirana, Durrës and Fier were the most affected. Currently, the situation is problematic in Lezhë, Fushë-Arrëz in Shkodra, Vajkal in Bulqizë, while several smaller fires are also present in other areas.
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