Sardinia: Nearly 10,000 hectares of land will go up in smoke by 2026: "Human influence is behind all the fires."
Sixty percent are intentional, 40% negligent, explains the Forestry Corps commander. Mayors are calling for greater territorial control and prevention.(Archive)
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As of August 2, 2026, 1,550 fires have broken out on the island . This figure is in line with the average of the previous 12 years (+0.1%) and slightly higher than in 2025, when there were 1,459. The hectares of wooded area affected by flames have decreased significantly (-63%), while those of non-wooded area have increased by 38% .
In total, almost 9,500 hectares of land went up in smoke (9,478.69 to be precise) , 15% more than the average for the period but in line with the 2025 figure.
And practically all the fires are either intentional or negligent: "Of those investigated in the last five years, 60% were started intentionally, 40% negligent, although this year we have witnessed other causes, such as six lightning-related fires," explained the commander of the Regional Forestry Corps Gianluca Cocco , on the sidelines of the plenary videoconference meeting on the 2026 forest fire prevention campaign convened by the regional civil protection and the regional department for environmental protection.
«Fires don't start on their own, the human hand is responsible for this grave crime, for these acts of terrorism against our land», is the warning from the regional councillor for the Environment Rosanna Laconi .
Mayors feel abandoned and are calling for increased controls and prevention , especially in sensitive areas: "This is why," Laconi emphasized, "we have involved the prefects, requesting the support of law enforcement. Increased prevention by patrolling the area, but also by cleaning up the countryside, a task entrusted to Forestas. Twenty-three municipalities have not yet prepared risk planning, compared to 354 that have a definitive plan.
The Sardinian fire-fighting machine
These are the numbers of the regional machine: 500 Forestry officers, 1,300 firefighters, a thousand Forestas, 150 Barracellari companies, and 2,000 volunteers on the ground. In the skies are the three Canadairs of the national fleet, nine light helicopters with a 900-liter water capacity, an AB412 helicopter with a 1,200-liter capacity, two Super Pumas capable of carrying up to 4,000 liters, and two Army and Air Force helicopters. These vehicles and men are joined by drones: today they are used to locate active fires under the ash and in the future, perhaps, alongside lookouts to patrol the territory . But "without ever replacing the manpower," Laconi specifies.
(Unioneonline)