The summer of 2025 has brought one of the most severe wildfire seasons Europe has seen in recent years. From France and Spain to Cyprus, Turkey and even the United Kingdom, fires have destroyed homes, businesses and farmland, while forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. The disruption has been felt across entire regions, affecting supply chains, tourism and local economies.

A Season of Disruption

•In France, the Corbières Massif blaze destroyed 16,000 hectares, making it the country’s second-largest modern wildfire.

•Spain and Cyprus both suffered fatalities, with thousands of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.

•Turkey’s İzmir Province saw more than 50,000 people evacuated, while airport operations were suspended.

•Even in the UK, 2025 has already surpassed previous records for wildfire activity.

For business owners, these events highlight how quickly operations can be interrupted, whether directly by fire damage or indirectly through transport delays, staff displacement or supply shortages.

Why This Matters to European Businesses

Wildfires are no longer confined to remote rural areas or to southern Europe. Increasingly, they threaten a broad range of locations, including peri-urban areas, transport hubs and tourist destinations. For organisations with property, staff or supply chains in Europe, this poses a growing risk to continuity and resilience.

Insurance plays a central role in responding to these challenges. Well-structured cover can protect against property damage, business interruption and liability exposures. But insurance alone is not enough. Prevention measures, fire-resilient construction and continuity planning are increasingly being recognised by insurers and can support better terms and premiums.

Preparing for the Future

Climate patterns suggest that the risk of wildfire will continue to rise. Businesses that act now to understand their exposure, protect their assets and put in place appropriate cover will be better placed to manage future events.

W Denis arrange specialist Natural Catastrophe Peril (including Flood) protection for organisations throughout Europe and the World. This includes both conventional (re)insurance as well as parametric solutions. For more information, please contact:

Eastern Europe

Vida.Jarasiunaite@wdenis.eu

Southern Europe

Christos.Hadjisotiris@wdenis.com

Western Europe &/or elsewhere worldwide

Mark.Dutton@wdenis.com