Riskline wildfire alerts have surged, and the company has issued a clear warning to the travel trade. Wildfire risk is no longer a rare, seasonal problem. It is now a regular threat to trips, health and public safety.
A fire can close an airport, block a road or force a town to leave at short notice. Smoke can also cross borders and reach cities far from the flames. For travellers, that can mean delays, cancelled tours, poor air quality and a sudden change of plan.
In figures supplied with its Wildfires 2026 Informer, Riskline says it issued 1,186 wildfire alerts in 2025. That compares with 633 in 2024, a rise of 87.4 per cent in one year.
“Wildfires are no longer rare or isolated incidents,” said Avantika Deb, Asia-Pacific Analyst at Riskline. “As they become more prevalent across regions from Asia to the Americas, they increasingly spill over into population centres, disrupt global travel networks and create complex challenges for travellers, businesses and communities.”
The message could hardly be clearer. Fire risk now belongs beside storms, strikes and unrest on every serious travel risk list.
More fires, more pressure on travel
The United States recorded 77,850 wildfires in 2025, up from 67,897 in 2024. The National Interagency Coordination Centre also found that the fires burned less land than in 2024.
That is an important point. A higher fire count does not always mean a larger burn area. Yet a smaller fire near an airport, road or resort can still cause major harm.
Riskline’s public guidance says fires can cancel flights, close roads and force resorts to clear out. Smoke may also trigger health alerts well beyond the fire zone. In short, the flames need not reach the runway to ruin the timetable.
The first months of 2026 added weight to the warning. From January to April, fires burned more than 150 million hectares worldwide. That was about 20 per cent above the prior record for the same period.
Asia accounted for about 44 million hectares, with India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and China among the worst-hit nations. Experts also warned that a strong El Niño could raise fire risk later in 2026 across Australia, Canada, the United States and the Amazon.
Smoke brings a second danger
Wildfire smoke is not a minor side issue. It carries fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream.
The World Meteorological Organisation says these particles cause more than 100,000 early deaths each year. Children, older people, pregnant women and those with heart or lung illness face a greater risk.
Fires also often strike during heatwaves. That adds the threat of dehydration, heat stress and heatstroke to an already grim holiday itinerary.
Travellers should watch official air-quality reports, carry key medicine and cut outdoor activity when smoke levels rise. They should also obey local orders at once.
“We will wait and see” may sound calm over breakfast. It is less wise when the road out is closing.
Europe’s figure needs the right date
One detail in the source material needs care. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre said more than 100,000 hectares had burned in the EU by the end of March 2025, not March 2026.
The update was published in March 2026, which may explain the mix-up. The date should be corrected in any final report.
The wider warning still stands. The 2025 season was the EU’s most destructive on record. Fire seasons are also starting earlier in some areas and can hit places that once drew little concern.
Australia has had its own sharp reminder. Copernicus said fires in Victoria burned about 400,000 hectares in January 2026. Smoke crossed the Tasman and moved much farther at high altitude.
AFAC also warns that its seasonal outlook shows areas of higher risk; it does not predict the exact time or place of a fire. A map is a guide, not a crystal ball.
Demand remains strong, but plans must improve
People will still visit fire-prone parts of Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Nor should every such place be treated as closed for business. The sound response is not panic. It is better planning.
Travel agents, firms, and tour operators should include fire plans for each high-risk trip. They should check official warnings, note more than one road out and confirm what insurance will cover. They should also keep bookings flexible where possible.
“Careful planning, contingency strategies and a strong understanding of destination-specific risks can greatly enhance traveller safety and preparedness,” added Avantika Deb.
Riskline also points to “coolcationing”. Some travellers are choosing cooler places to avoid fierce heat and high fire risk. That may help, but no destination comes with a weather guarantee.
Travel has always relied on good judgement. In the new fire age, that judgement needs fresh data, sound plans and a useful Plan B.
The passport still matters. So does knowing where the exit road leads.
By: Karuna Johnson – © 2026.
Read Time: 4 minutes.
Author Bio:
Karuna Johnson’s career only makes sense if you know she truly loves travel. Thai by birth, with dual citizenship, she moves easily between worlds, equally at home sharing street food in Bangkok or sitting quietly through a Sydney boardroom meeting.
Educated in both Thailand and Australia, she speaks several languages and has applied them across destination management companies and hotels, spanning sales and administration. She’s the sort who keeps things running smoothly while others are still waking up.
Her journeys have taken her across Asia, Europe, and the United States, but it’s the smaller details that stay with her: people, customs, and the stories beneath every trip.
Worldly without being showy, Karuna brings a steady, thoughtful voice to Global Travel Media, exactly what the travel industry needs.
