Up to 97% of wildfires in Europe are caused by human activity, but the spark alone doesn’t explain their severity: heat, drought and dry vegetation can turn it into an emergency.
Human activity is behind the vast majority of wildfires.When we think about what starts a wildfire, it is easy to picture a lightning storm or a random spark. But the data tell a very different story, especially in Spain, where the vast majority of wildfires are linked to human activity.
A study focused on Europe found that 97.5% of wildfires were attributable to human causes between 2000 and 2016. That figure is significant enough to change the way we understand the problem. Climate change is increasing the conditions that allow fires to spread, but it is not necessarily the spark that starts them.
Lightning-caused wildfires have always existed, but they do not account for most fires
Lightning is one of the few natural causes capable of starting a wildfire. In these cases, an electrical discharge can strike vegetation and ignite a fire. When the surrounding environment also has low humidity and abundant dry vegetation, conditions can favor the subsequent spread of the flames.
But in Spain, lightning accounts for a much smaller share of wildfires than human-related causes, according to the statistics. In Spain’s national 2026 statistics, 84.31% of wildfires were attributed to negligence, carelessness or arson, although these proportions can vary significantly depending on the region and period analyzed.
The 97% figure needs some context
The figure may be striking, but it is important to
Original Record.
This archived record authored by ‘Dainet Sierra’ at ‘METEORED (Your Weather)’ was recovered from data set:
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