Forest fires in Italy, 1,200 square kilometers burned in 2026: Ispra data

The data

In recent months, 2,076 large fires have been recorded, with the overall surface area covered by fire among the highest in recent years. The forest areas affected amount to almost 200 square kilometers, equal to 16% of the total burned area. Among the most affected ecosystems are 78 square kilometers of oak forests and mixed forests, 65 of high scrub and holm oak and cork oak forests and 44 of evergreen coniferous forests.

Sicily and Calabria are the most affected

The fires affected all Italian regions. After Sicily, the highest shares of burned surface area are recorded in Calabria and Puglia, both around 10%. In the North the most affected region is Piedmont, with 4%, while in the Center it is Abruzzo, again with 4%.

The province of Agrigento presents the most serious toll, with 222 square kilometers burned, of which approximately 15 are forested. The impact on protected areas is particularly significant: over 30% of the total surface burned falls in parks, nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites. These areas also include approximately 40% of the forest surfaces affected by fire.

The most important cases

Among the most significant episodes, Ispra reports the fire of 20 July between Agrigento and Palermo, which affected 63 square kilometers, and that of 4 August between Biella and Vercelli, with approximately 9 square kilometers of forests involved.

"Prevention cannot be improvised when the flames arrive: it is built first, through scientific knowledge, planning and collaboration between institutions, local communities and citizens", says Maria Alessandra Gallone, president of ISPRA and SNPA. The institute's monitoring is based on high-resolution satellite observations. Gallone also recalls the role of drones and the need to support mayors in risk prevention and management. At a European level, Effis data highlights significant deviations from historical averages in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Belgium.