Jul 26, 2021 - Energy & Climate

Wildfire in western Sardinia forces more than 1,000 to evacuate

Jacob Knutson

Firefighters battling a blaze in the province of Oristano in Sardinia, Italy, on July 25. Photo: Emanuele Perrone/Getty Images

A wildfire that has burnt at least 50,000 acres of land forced more than 1,000 residents and tourists to evacuate parts of western Sardinia, Italy, over the weekend, according to the New York Times.

The big picture: Multiple farms and private properties have been destroyed by the fire, which started Saturday near the village of Bonacardo in the province of Oristano and has quickly spread near multiple other towns.

More than 7,000 firefighters and volunteers have responded to the fire, and the European Union has deployed four forest firefighting planes after Italy requested assistance, according to the Guardian.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The big picture: Italy is experiencing an above-average fire season this year, registering almost 13,000 more wildfires than last year, according to the Times.

High temperatures are extending into the winter months because of climate change, contributing to longer fire seasons and increased fuel loads in the summer.

Go deeper: Wildfires in U.S., Siberia are unusually intense, setting emissions records

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Wildfire in western Sardinia forces more than 1,000 to evacuate

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