Europe’s increasingly intense wildfires are creating a new danger in areas contaminated by unexploded bombs and military ammunition left behind from the two World Wars and the Cold War.
Recent fires in Germany and France have highlighted the growing threat. When a wildfire swept through Germany’s Müritz National Park in July bomb disposal teams had to work alongside firefighters because parts of the forest contained buried Cold War era ammunition.
A major wildfire in France Gironde region also exposed dozens of World War II-era shells. At least 75 shells were recovered near Le Porge while some reportedly detonated during the fire. One projectile even struck the wall of an evacuated house.
Experts say prolonged heat from wildfires can trigger buried explosives. While short lived surface fires may not generate enough heat, fires that burn for hours or days, particularly those that penetrate dry peat and soil, can transfer sufficient heat to old ammunition.
The danger is compounded by the age of the explosives. Decades of corrosion can weaken bomb casings and make fuses more sensitive, increasing the possibility of unexpected explosions when exposed to extreme heat.
A similar incident occurred during the 2025 Langdale Moor fire in North Yorkshire where more than 20 buried World War II shells reportedly exploded as flames burned through deep peat over several weeks.
Wildfires can also expose previously buried ammunition by burning away vegetation and topsoil. This leaves unexploded shells and other ordnance on the surface, creating additional risks for firefighters, residents and emergency response teams.
Europe has large areas contaminated with unexploded military remnants. Forests and heathlands in northeastern Germany were once used as Soviet and East German military training grounds. Northern France and Belgium continue to see World War I shells discovered during farming, while parts of France’s former “Zone Rouge” remain restricted because of wartime contamination.
In the United Kingdom, areas such as the North York Moors were also used for military training during World War II, leaving ammunition buried in peatlands.
The risk is becoming more serious as wildfire conditions intensify across Europe. Consecutive heatwaves, low rainfall and dry soils have contributed to increasingly severe fires. The report notes that the number of summer days with extreme fire-prone conditions across southern Europe doubled between 1981 and 2025.
Climate change, combined with rural land abandonment and increasing vegetation buildup, is contributing to heavier fuel loads and longer fire seasons in some parts of Europe.
The combination of extreme heat, dry vegetation and buried wartime explosives means firefighting operations in affected areas now require additional planning, including coordination with bomb disposal teams and identification of contaminated zones.
The emerging threat highlights how Europe historic legacy of unexploded ordnance is becoming a modern disaster risk challenge as climate change increases the intensity and duration of wildfires.