"The year 2025 currently ranks as the third-most fire-prone year on record"
In the year 2025, Portugal witnessed a series of significant forest fires. A total of 7,046 fires burned across the country, consuming a total of 254,000 hectares. Among these, 35 large fires stood out, accounting for just 0.5% of the total fires but a staggering 92% of the total burned area.
The burned areas were primarily composed of shrub, herbaceous, and sparse vegetation, making up 69% of the total burned area. Forests accounted for 22%, while agricultural areas represented 9%. The burned area in Perimeter Forest Management Zones (ZIFs), Forest Intervention Zones (ZIFs), and Integrated Landscape Management Areas (AIGPs) accounted for only 4% of the total burned area.
The most affected regions in 2025 were the northern and central regions. The largest forest fire of the year started around August 13 in the region of Arganil, north-east of Lisbon, and affected seven municipalities in the districts of Coimbra, Guarda, and Castelo Branco. This fire, which lasted 11 days, burned over 64,451 hectares before being controlled on August 24, making it the largest forest fire in Portugal in 2025.
The carbon emissions from these fires were quite significant, totalling approximately 3.3 million tons. This is equivalent to a quarter of the national total emissions, highlighting the environmental impact of these fires.
Interestingly, 18 of these large fires occurred in the North, 12 in the Center, and 5 in the Alentejo. Six of the 35 large fires (17%) started with an ignition at night, between 22:00 and 06:00. The burned areas primarily affected private management areas.
Comparing 2025 to previous years, the burned area in 2025 was less than that of the years 2003 and 2005, with 421,000 and 308,000 hectares respectively, up to August 31. However, the most tragic year ever, when including October fires, was 2017.
In conclusion, while the number of fires in 2025 was relatively high, the majority of the burned area was concentrated in a smaller number of large fires. The environmental and economic impact of these fires is significant, underscoring the importance of continued efforts to prevent and manage forest fires in Portugal.
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