Environment: 1,070 major forest fires recorded in Italia over a seven-month period
The area affected by the fire covers approximately 74 square kilometres. This is an area comparable to that of the province of Lodi.
Key points
It’s not just the heat and bad weather; with high temperatures and parched ground due to the drought, we also have to contend with wildfires. And there was no shortage of them this summer either.
1,070 major forest fires
From 1 January to 28 July 2026, according to the latest update from ISPRA on the system for monitoring the effects of forest fires, just over 1,070 major fires were detected by satellite across the country. ‘The total area affected by the fires amounts to approximately 74 square kilometres, an area comparable to that of the entire province of Lodi,’ notes the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection. ‘14 per cent of the total area burnt was covered by forest ecosystems, including 37 square kilometres of evergreen broadleaf woodland (holm oak forests and Mediterranean scrub) and 24 square kilometres of coniferous woodland (pine and fir forests)’.
Agricultural areas and fields
In addition to forested areas, the fires mainly affected 119 square kilometres of agricultural land (16 per cent of the total area burnt) and 451 square kilometres of permanent grassland (61 per cent of the total area burnt).
Southern Italy and the islands hardest hit
Most of the fires were recorded in Southern Italy and on the major islands. In particular, Sicily (510 km²), Calabria (78 km²) and Puglia (48 km²) are the areas most severely affected, accounting collectively for 73 per cent of the area burnt so far at national level. ‘These same regions,’ ISPRa points out, ‘are also the hardest hit in terms of burnt forest ecosystems.’
Parks in July
In July 2026, a number of national parks and protected areas were affected by particularly severe wildfires, which impacted ecosystems of great natural value.
