The world is on fire
Good morning/evening.
Today I have written about the wildfires in Bulgaria, it is both scary and concerning that they have been this bad and the country with nowhere near enough resources to tackle them. It has devastated homes and wildlife as well as crops and the timber that would be used to either heat homes in the winter or become building materials.
Wildfires in Bulgaria
A Growing Crisis for People, Nature, and the State
I have lived in Eastern Europe for over 16 years, and I’ve grown used to hot, dry summers here in Bulgaria. Most years, I escape back to the UK during July and August, ironically, the exact time when tourists flock here for the sunshine. In past summers, wildfires have always been “around,” but 2025 has been the worst I can remember. And it’s not just Bulgaria. Across Southern Europe, from Spain to Greece and Turkey, fires have burned at levels unseen in decades.
Even in early September, when the weather usually begins to cool, Bulgaria still remains under a red alert for wildfire danger. Regions including Silistra, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Vratsa, Yambol, Haskovo, and Kardzhali are all at risk. A red alert means fires can spread rapidly, climb into tree crowns, and become nearly impossible to contain. At one point last week, Bulgarian firefighters were tackling blazes in nearly 100 different locations, with multiple villages under evacuation orders.
Living Close to the Flames
Being away from home during these wildfires felt both like a blessing and a curse. A friend sent me a video of flames burning right outside her gate in a village only a few kilometers from ours. My family tried not to worry me, but once I found out how close the fire had come, I made them promise to keep me updated. They were told that if they had to evacuate they had to remembering to grab the Ledger key! To make matters worse, our village had no mains water for days, so you could not even wet the ground surrounding the house. All the Locals were forced to fetch water from nearby springs and store it in bottles around their homes, a desperate backup plan if the fire reached their property. I remember one summer when the water was off for nine straight days, but at least we had a pool to rely on then. This time, people relied on luck and determination. One neighbor, in the past and fed up with the neglect, spoke to reporters. Once the story hit the news, miraculously, the water was restored the very next day.
Europe’s Wildfire Statistics Are Sobering
Across the European Union, more than 1 million hectares have burned this year, the highest total in over 20 years. And while climate change and prolonged drought fuel the crisis, many fires are caused by human negligence. Carelessly discarded cigarettes, unattended barbecues, and even glass jars left on dry grass can ignite devastating blazes. In one local case, a poorly maintained tractor caught fire, sparking yet another major wildfire. Despite the danger, some people still act recklessly. Just recently, a neighbor was spotted burning rubbish in her garden, despite a nationwide fire ban. It’s a stark reminder that public education and awareness are as important as firefighting resources.
The Aftermath: Homes and Habitats Destroyed
One fires broke out in the town of Beloslav, where 11 homes were completely destroyed. While thankfully no lives were lost, the fire spread across 10 acres, driven by strong winds. Eight firefighting units, supported by police, worked through the night to contain it. Investigators suspect burning cables may have sparked the blaze in one neighborhood. But the toll isn’t just measured in buildings. Bulgarian wildlife suffers enormously. Deer, wild boar, and foxes are forced to flee flames, often with no safe refuge. Ground-nesting birds lose eggs and chicks in seconds. Amphibians and reptiles, tied to fragile ecosystems, are decimated when wetlands and forest floors burn. Even after the fires are extinguished, grazing animals struggle to find food, predators lose hunting grounds, and pollinators disappear. These cascading effects weaken the resilience of Bulgaria’s forests, making recovery slower and future fires even more devastating.
Accountability and the Call for Action
Bulgaria’s institutional response has been under heavy criticism. Journalists have questioned why firefighting helicopters remained idle, why modern equipment is lacking, and why political leaders have been so slow to act. Currently, Bulgaria relies partly on just two Swedish Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss planes, far from enough to handle widespread blazes in remote terrain. Meanwhile, the real firefighting has often fallen on local heroes, exhausted firefighters, volunteers, villagers with diggers carving fire breaks, and even teenagers carrying water and food to those battling the flames. International assistance has come, but Bulgarians rightly argue that the country should have its own robust resources, from modern fire engines to a fleet of water-dropping planes.
A Wake-Up Call for Bulgaria
Wildfires in Bulgaria are no longer rare, isolated events. They are a national crisis, fueled by drought, and years of underinvestment in prevention and firefighting infrastructure. How Bulgaria responds now will determine whether these disasters remain an annual tragedy, or become the catalyst for lasting reform. My thoughts are with everyone affected by wildfires, in Bulgaria and beyond. These fires remind us that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of preparedness.
Thank you for reading, and as always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. My thoughts go out to anyone in any of the countries that have been effected by the fires.
