[Video] Dr. Aleš Jug: Global warming? The fires were started by man (Hot topic: August 20, 2026)

A leading European expert in fire safety, Dr. Aleš Jug, discussed the escalating wildfires sweeping across Europe during a podcast titled Vroča tema, aired on August 20, 2026. The episode featured insights into the causes, spread, and management of these fires, with particular emphasis on Slovenia’s challenges in firefighting resources and equipment procurement. Dr. Jug, head of the Department for Fire Safety Sustainable Built Environment at the Slovenian Institute of Building Technology (ZAG), president of the Slovenian Society for Fire Protection, and chairman of the Fire Prevention Commission at the International Fire Service Organization CTIF, highlighted how climate change and human negligence contribute to the crisis. According to Dr. Jug, the conditions for wildfires require combustible material, biomass, oxygen, wind, and ignition. Slovenia, one of the more forested countries in Europe, experiences rapid fire spread due to strong winds that carry fresh air, accelerating combustion while directing flames in specific directions. This year, some wildfires advanced up to 20 kilometers per hour, a rare occurrence in Europe. Approximately 40% of fires were intentional, with the remaining attributed to carelessness, children playing, and pyromania. In Slovenia, experts have developed robust methods to investigate both the cause and motive behind such incidents. The situation has worsened significantly since mid-August, with areas burned across Europe equivalent to nearly a quarter of Slovenia's territory. Satellite images from Copernicus show intense burn zones over Siberia, Africa, parts of California, and central Europe. Dr. Jug explained that many of these fires are part of natural forest renewal processes and are often left unextinguished. However, the challenge arises when fires transition into urban environments, where they become particularly dangerous. Certain plants, like olive trees, are difficult to ignite, while conifers such as pine, birch, fir, and spruce contain aromatic resins that release flammable vapors under heat, making them highly susceptible to rapid spread in windy conditions. Recovery times vary depending on the vegetation type. Grasslands and shrubs can regenerate within two to five years, whereas forests require 20 to 50 years to fully recover. Smoke, a mixture of solid particles, gases, and aerosols, poses serious health risks, especially for individuals with asthma. When buildings or vehicles catch fire, smoke becomes even more hazardous, containing heavy metals. Measurements taken near the German border after a fire in Belgium revealed pollutant levels exceeding legal limits by up to tenfold. Dr. Jug recalled that in 2022, residents in Ljubljana could see and smell smoke from fires in the Kranjska region. In France, a massive wildfire near Bordeaux created a phenomenon known as a “pyrocumulonimbus,” a fire-driven thunderstorm characterized by unpredictable wind patterns. Other dangers include sealed gas cylinders, which can explode after 20 minutes of exposure to high temperatures, and fuel oil storage tanks, which ignite at just over 55 degrees Celsius. To combat these threats, Slovenia employs agile aircraft such as the Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Boss, capable of carrying approximately 3,100 liters of water in around 15 seconds from rivers, lakes, or even the sea under favorable conditions. In contrast, Croatian rescue planes, the CL-415, can carry up to 6,100 liters, twice as much. The European Union has introduced the Civil Protection Mechanism “rescEU,” which includes 22 specialized aircraft, 14 water bombers, and eight Air Tractors, along with helicopters stationed in twelve member states. Additionally, there are 777 ground-based firefighters available from sixteen countries. Despite this, cooperation among Slovenian, Italian, and Croatian firefighters remains crucial, especially in nearby regions such as Friuli-Venezia Giulia. While Slovenia faces challenges in acquiring necessary firefighting equipment, neighboring countries have demonstrated greater efficiency in utilizing EU funds for emergency response capabilities.