More than 1,255 hectares of forest and other land were affected by wildfires in Albania during the first seven months of 2026, not including August. Data from the National Civil Protection Agency highlight a worrying toll, while a European Commission report points to a problem that has been repeated for years: when the flames spread widely, domestic capacities are not enough.
Current toll: July the hardest month
According to official figures, 1,255 hectares burned nationwide in the January-July 2026 period. July was the month with the greatest damage, with 476 hectares affected by the flames, followed by March with 327 hectares and April with 296 hectares.
For the other months, the reported data are: June 29 hectares, May 22 hectares, February 58 hectares and January 17 hectares. The monthly distribution itself shows that the problem is not episodic, but recurring at several stages of the year.
Vlora leads in burned area
The hardest-hit county so far is Vlora, with 466 hectares affected by fires. The largest share of the damage in this county was recorded in July, with 309 hectares, while 21 hectares were reported in June.
In the other months of the year, according to official data for Vlora, 6 hectares were recorded in May, 20 in April, 45 in March, 48 in February and 17 in January. This places the county at the center of this year’s wildfire damage map.
European Commission report: capacities often overstretched
The weaknesses in dealing with major fires do not emerge only from this year’s toll. The European Commission’s 2025 report found that Albania’s national capacity is insufficient when fires reach a wide scale.
According to the report, Albania’s response capacities are often overstretched, especially in the case of fires, leading to more frequent requests for assistance from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The European assessment calls for a review of emergency plans, improvements to early warning infrastructure and stronger operational capacities.
What is being asked of Albanian institutions
The European Commission is also asking Albania to streamline communication with the civil emergency center in Brussels for crisis management. The report mentions the need for links with trans-European telecommunication services between administrations, as a precondition for the full use of the common communication and information system for emergencies.
On the other hand, according to statements by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Albania is expected to add three firefighting aircraft by the end of 2026. Also, under a decision of the Council of Ministers, fire protection and rescue employees will benefit from additional pay ranging from 20% to 50% of salary for every extra hour on duty, capped at 200 hours per year.
However, faced with a situation that is repeating from year to year, the question remains whether the announced measures are enough to avoid the same scenario as soon as the wildfire season reaches its peak.
The January-July figures show that the damage is already significant even without counting August, when the risk usually rises. In this picture, the European Commission’s warnings seem more like a signal of structural shortcomings than a routine administrative remark.