Press Release: Forest fire risk on the rise since beginning of August

From 31 July to 14 August 2006, mapping of fires larger than 50 ha with satellite imagery indicates an increase of burnt areas from 13,591 to 49,881 ha in Portugal and from 2,241 to 88,473 ha in Galicia. Up to 31 July, more than 64,500 ha were burnt by forest fires in the EU. This is the information received from the Member States and compiled by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the system developed by the European Commission to monitor forest fire risk in Europe and provide Member States with early risk warning and damage assessment. After a rather quiet beginning to the fire season in the Mediterranean Regions, the beginning of August has witnessed a sharp increase in fires and burnt areas, mainly in Galicia (Spain) and in neighbouring Portugal. On the other hand, in Northern Regions of Europe an unusually high fire danger was recorded in spring and early summer. The figures for 2006 so far are much less than the 610,000 ha (i.e. twice the area of Luxembourg) burnt in 2005, but the fire season is not yet over.

European Commission: Joint Research Centre: European Forest Fire Information System - EFFIS http://effis.jrc.it/Home/

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