Five Hundred
513 wildfires in Luxembourg since the start of 2022. The country is small. That number is not.
Minister of Home Affairs Léon Gloden answered a parliamentary question from MPs Claire Delvourt and Mars Di Bartolomeo on the prevention and assessment of forest and vegetation fires. The numbers paint a clear picture.
2022 was the worst year so far: 192 incidents, 176 vegetation fires and 16 forest fires. In 2026, as of July 23, authorities have documented 85 vegetation fires and 8 forest fires, totalling 93. That is nearly the yearly toll of 2023 and 2025, and almost three times as much as 2024. And July 23 was three weeks ago, before the current heatwave.
The parliamentary answer did not provide details on the burnt surface area. Minister Gloden's response highlighted that the risk exists throughout the country but is especially heightened in areas with increased agricultural activity.
A working group called "Feux de végétation et de forêt", part of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, does not directly influence ongoing firefighting efforts. The Minister added, however, that the network created by the working group strengthened collaborative efforts during the 2026 season, including prevention and awareness measures.
The context is European. Heatwaves and devastating wildfires have been raging across the continent this summer. Luxembourg is not exempt. 93 wildfires by late July, with August still burning, puts 2026 on track to rival 2022 as the worst year on record.