New EU data revealing a huge reduction in the number of firefighters during the worst year on record for wildfires highlights the need to end reckless cuts to our public services.
Figures published today by Eurostat show that Europe had 372,400 professional firefighters in 2025 – down from 390,600 firefighters in 2024. See notes for national figures.
The reduction coincided with the most destructive year for wildfires on record, with more than a million hectares burned across the length and breadth of the EU.
Austerity
In response to a campaign by trade unions, the European Commission told member states in March to ensure their fire services are adequately staffed to deal with rising climate threats.
But some of the significant staff reductions came in countries which the Commission itself put under an ‘Excessive Deficit Procedure’ in 2024. For example, Poland lost 9,000 firefighters and France lost 4,100.
That is why the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling for a revision of the EU’s economic governance rules to ensure all member states can invest in vital public services and their staff.
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:
“You could not design a more reckless policy if you tried: sending Europe’s fire services into its most dangerous wildfire season ever with 18,000 fewer firefighters.
“This is austerity setting fire to common sense and putting lives, livelihoods and homes at risk. Nothing could demonstrate more clearly just how dangerous and self-defeating the EU’s economic rules are.
“Failing to properly staff our fire services, which carry out crucial prevention work as well as tackling blazes when they occur, is a false economy at a time when the economic cost of wildfires is running into the billions.
“Europe is massively increasing spending on defence but letting our guard down against the most imminent and serious risk to people’s safety. We need a consistent approach to all of the challenges we are facing and that requires investment in our public services and their workforce.”
Jan Willem Goudriaan, General Secretary of the European Public Service Union, said:
“The public services emergency is repeatedly showing us its dangers, yet the Commission is fiddling while Rome burns.
“Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more severe, while the number of firefighters is declining.
“The Commission’s focus on deregulation and competitiveness does nothing to address people’s concerns nor does it strengthen preparedness.
“We need to end austerity, focus on climate change and just transition – invest in firefighting and emergency services, hire more staff and protect the workers who protect us.”
Hellbound and Down 