Greece Wildfires (2021)

Nikos ran a small olive farm passed down through generations. When the heatwave hit, temperatures soared past 45°C, and the forests near his village dried to tinder. One afternoon, smoke rose from the hills, and within hours, fire swept toward his fields. "We fought with garden hoses and buckets, but it was hopeless," he said.

The wildfires burned for 10 days, scorching 125,000 acres, including historic forests and farmland. Nikos lost not only his olives but also his family’s livelihood. "We’ve had wildfires before, but never like this. It’s the heat. It’s worse every year," he said. Firefighters from across Europe joined Greek crews, using planes and helicopters to contain the blaze.

Lesson: Fires can devastate cultural and economic assets, leaving long-term impacts.