Kevin Mason
Although both US housing starts and sales data are showing some resilience in the face of an extremely difficult and volatile macroeconomic backdrop, several alarm bells are beginning to ring for the U.S. housing market. Mortgage rates, which have moved steadily higher over the past six months, are certainly cause for concern. …At the beginning of the year most pundits, including ourselves, expected some modest near-term rate relief; we are seeing the exact opposite unfold. With the conflict in the Middle East still far from resolved, we anticipate that elevated oil/energy prices will result in continued inflationary pressures through year-end (at least) and elevated mortgage rates will continue to drag on both new home construction and home sales activity (the latter which negatively impacts wood products demand from repair and remodel).
According to the CME’s FedWatch tool, it’s a coin toss whether or not the Fed hikes by 25bps when it meets in mid-September, and the CME indicates an almost 38% probability that the funds rates will be 50bps higher by year end. And unsurprisingly, homebuilder confidence continues to worsen, and the NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI slipped by another 2 points to 34 in July. The NAHB’s Multifamily Production Index (MPI) which measures builder sentiment in the apartment and condo market, was off by 3 points.
Exporters across Brazil shipped US$7.5 billion of pulp, paper, and wood panels over the first half of 2026, down 5.9 per cent on the same months last year, while imports of paper into a market that has always supplied itself climbed 30.5 per cent. That is according to Indústria Brasileira de Árvores, the association representing the country’s pulp, paper, and panel producers, which last week revealed that its export sales into the North American market had sunk by 22.9 per cent. “There is an excess of production from some countries being directed to Latin America and Brazil,” Paulo Hartung said, with the Ibá president putting the half-year down to wars and to a resurgence of protectionism that has disorganised international supply chains. Pulp, the biggest single line in the sector’s export schedule, accounted for $5.2 billion of that total, with export volumes down 10.5 per cent to 9.4 million tonnes, while production held near-stable at 13.9 million tonnes.
The US International Trade Commission (USITC) announced its injury determinations in its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning hardwood and decorative plywood from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam that the US Department of Commerce determined are subsidized and sold in the US at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. …Chairman Brett W. Doyle and Commissioners Jason S. Kearns and Peter-Anthony Pappas voted in the affirmative regarding hardwood and decorative plywood from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. They also found that the imports of softwood structural plywood downfall and stamped and certified softwood structural plywood that Commerce determined are sold at less than fair value and subsidized… are negligible, and voted to terminate the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations for these products from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The report will be available on the USITC website by September 28, 2026.
The Australian Government has announced a $150 million investment to support forestry industry growth, including funding aimed at transforming wood-product manufacturing and expanding domestic processing capabilities. Announced on 3 September, the funding will be delivered through five streams under the Forestry Growth Fund, with up to $85 million earmarked for large-scale investments in modern wood-product processing, value-adding and facilities designed to significantly transform manufacturing capabilities. A further $30 million will support innovation aimed at improving efficiency and productivity across the forestry supply chain, while up to $15 million will be allocated to workforce development. The government will also provide up to $15 million in additional support for plantation establishment to increase the supply of domestic forest resources for Australia’s manufacturing and construction needs. Another $5 million will fund tools to support compliance with illegal logging laws and reduce the risk of illegally logged or conflict timber entering supply chains.
A six-week production shutdown at Metsä Fibre’s large bioproduct mill in Kemi will temporarily reduce demand for pulpwood in northern Finland. At the same time, Stora Enso is considering closing the Veitsiluoto sawmill permanently. The announcements increase uncertainty for forest owners, logging contractors and transport companies, although they do not mean that the regional wood trade will come to a standstill. Metsä Fibre will suspend production at its Kemi bioproduct mill for six weeks during October and November 2026. The shutdown will allow the company to modernise the mill’s cooking system and will be coordinated with its regular annual maintenance outage. The unusually long stoppage is expected to reduce the mill’s immediate consumption of pulpwood. …The immediate consequences are likely to include softer demand and more complicated logistics during the autumn. This does not amount to a collapse of northern Finland’s wood market. 
The ten largest softwood lumber import markets imported 16.6 million m3 in April-June 2026. Canada increased its share of U.S. softwood lumber imports by 6 pp, while Germany lost 3 pp of U.S. softwood lumber imports, according to Lesprom Analytics. The ten largest suppliers shipped 15.0 million m3 and held 90% of imports across the ten largest import markets. Canada gained 2 pp of Chinese softwood lumber imports. In the United Kingdom, Germany gained 4 pp and Finland lost 3 pp of U.K. softwood lumber imports. Russia shipped 474 thousand m3 less across the ten largest import markets, followed by Germany at 428 thousand m3 less and Austria at 370 thousand m3 less. In the first half of 2026, the ten largest import markets imported 34.7 million m3. Canada shipped 1.8 million m3 less and Russia shipped 1.2 million m3 less than in the first half of 2025.
Japan’s housing starts increased 8.2% year-on-year in July 2026, slowing significantly from an 18.6% surge in the previous month. Still, the latest reading marked the fourth consecutive month of growth, surpassing market expectations of 7.9% growth. Owner-occupied homes rose just 0.4% (vs 15.7% in June), while rental housing growth eased markedly (10.0% vs 24.6%). In the meantime, built-for-sale homes continued to grow solidly (14.6% vs 14.2%). At the same time, starts of two-by-four homes fell further (-8.5% vs -7.4%), while prefabricated housing starts dropped 6.9%, reversing a 13.7% gain in June.
The United Kingdom is forecast to consume 10.35 million tonnes of wood pellets in 2026, representing a 4% increase from 2025 and a record consumption level, according to a report filed with the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The consumption increase will require an estimated 10.15 million tonnes of imports. The forecast reflects strong demand from the industrial biomass power sector, which is operating at near-maximum capacity as major operators maximise output ahead of structural changes to subsidy mechanisms. Industrial bioenergy accounts for approximately 93% of UK wood pellet demand, with Drax and Lynemouth power stations consuming a combined estimated 9.63 million tonnes annually. …The 4% year-on-year consumption growth from 9.95 million tonnes in 2025 represents continued reliance on biomass within the UK’s electricity generation mix. Residential and commercial heating sectors account for the remaining 7% of wood pellet demand, a significantly smaller market segment than industrial power generation.
Researchers have developed a phosphorus-free and formaldehyde-free lignin-derived phenolic resin that combines intrinsic flame retardancy, robust adhesion and effective fire protection when applied as a coating on wood. The material offers a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based phenolic resins. Conventional petroleum-derived phenolic resins face growing scrutiny due to sustainability concerns, inherent flammability and limited adhesion durability. In response, a recent study introduces a lignin-derived phenolic resin, designated SALG-PR, that is both phosphorus-free and formaldehyde-free. The material …delivers a fully bio-based network with multifunctional performance. The resin exhibits notable intrinsic flame retardancy, reaching a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 62.4 %, values comparable to established petroleum-based resins and to previously reported bio-based flame-retardant materials. Direct exposure to a butane torch for 300 s did not lead to burn-through, and infrared thermography confirmed effective localisation of heat within the flame-impinged region, indicating a strong barrier effect.
The Canada Wood Market Insights has these headlines and more:
Wind turbines are a powerful alternative to fossil fuels, with wind power now accounting for about 10.5% of all utility-scale electricity generated in the United States. In Germany, the combination of wind and solar power has passed fossil fuels as the nation’s top electric generators. But the environmental impact of wind turbines and their massive blades cuts both ways. The blades are generally made of reinforced fiberglass, a material that is strong, light, and durable. They can last 20 to 30 years. But they’re so difficult to recycle that Europe came up with an unexpected new job for old wind turbines: Pedestrian bridge girders. A company in Germany has a solution that could make the recycling process easier. Voodin Blade Technology made 63-foot wind turbine blades from laminated veneer lumber (LVL). It’s not a completely new idea. In the 1980s, NASA approached Michigan boatbuilders Gougeon Brothers about applying their wood-composite techniques to wind turbines.
The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) has launched an international project to develop practical guidance on managing water and moisture risk throughout the lifecycle of mass timber buildings. Funded by the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) and Swedish Wood, the project will bring together existing research and industry expertise to produce practical guidance on the design, construction and long-term management of mass timber buildings. With mass timber being adopted in a wider range of building types, the ASBP said practical guidance would help build confidence for the industry and insurance providers. The guidance will build on the success of the Mass Timber Insurance Playbook, published by ASBP and co-authored by Dr Jim Glockling. …the principles of moisture management are governed by universal building physics. The guidance will therefore be developed as an internationally applicable resource, with regional considerations added where appropriate. It is scheduled to be published in October 2026.
AUSTRALIA — Forest & Wood Products Australia released a draft standard for cross laminated timber design to provide a dedicated framework for the structural design of CLT elements. The Standard has undergone independent technical review and provides comprehensive design methods for structural CLT components, subject to the requirements and limitations described in the Scope. Developed through collaboration with industry, researchers and technical experts, the Standard is intended to give architects, engineers and builders a national method for designing cross-laminated timber floors, walls and stairs, under a 46-page document out for comment. …Industry Benefits include consistency across engineering, manufacturing and certification practices; growing use of CLT and mass timber construction in Australia; and an independently reviewed basis for CLT structural design. …The public comment period for this Standard is open for a six-week period to 29 September.
TAIWAN — The Taiwan Forestry Research Institute said it is promoting full utilization of Taiwan’s incense cedar to develop a high-value circular economy for forest resources. Incense cedar is an endemic species of Taiwan and is one of Taiwan’s five major coniferous tree species, the institute said. …While Taiwan incense cedar wood is popular with consumers thanks to its distinctive aroma, surplus materials generated during the process of forest tending, pruning and wood processing are usually used as fuel or disposed of, it said. The institute’s Chiayi Research Center promoted research on the reutilization of Taiwan incense cedar surplus materials at the Yunshui Experiment Station from last year to this year, the institute said. Water distillation was applied to extract Taiwan incense cedar oil from surplus materials, while the remaining materials would be ground into scented powder or made into incense cones, it said.
The EU has introduced new rules targeting packaging waste and “forever chemicals.” Although the changes will be phased in slowly, some small sellers have already paused shipments due to the additional red tape. In a drive to cut waste and improve public health, new 
The first requirements of the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) take effect today, August 12. Duni Group is well prepared and welcomes the regulation, which creates a common framework for the European packaging market. 
After a long journey towards implementation, the controversial European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will become law on December 30, 2026, for large operators in the EU, and on June 30, 2027, for smaller operators. When it finally does, the likes of White Oak, Red Oak, Ash, and Walnut from the US will continue flowing into the European market without major hold-ups, thanks largely to the latest tweaks made to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)’s free compliance platform. “I’m very confident in saying that we are 100 percent EUDR compliant,” AHEC’s Tripp Pryor told HMR/Fastmarkets about the American Hardwood Assured (AHA) platform. …Last year saw AHEC make additional changes to ensure full compliance with the European Commission’s specifications around geo-coordinates and harvest sourcing. …Recent tweaks have incorporated preparatory AI to upload US Forest Service data and identify individual harvest sites within counties. “This is a natural fit for using an AI system,” Pryor said.
Europe’s forest-based industries are entering a critical phase as policymakers seek to accelerate the bioeconomy while forests face growing pressures from climate change, natural disturbances and rising demand for wood-based resources. Against this backdrop, CEI-Bois and the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) held discussions with Sweden’s largest forest owner (Sveaskog), on the future of Europe’s woodworking, sawmilling and forest-based bioeconomy. The meeting focused on the current position and future prospects of Europe’s woodworking and sawmill industries. Discussions covered the opportunities presented by the upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy, competitiveness challenges and the growing influence of EU sustainability and product-related legislation on forest-based businesses. A central message was that Europe’s bioeconomy ambitions will require a policy environment that recognises the diversity of regional forest resources and forest-based value chains. At the same time, Europe needs healthy, productive forests capable of providing raw materials while allowing industries to remain competitive.
CLARENCE TOWN, Australia — Australian firefighters say they are on alert as temperatures in the southern hemisphere begin to pick up, following a devastating fire season in Europe. Australia is already experiencing a strong El Nino weather event that typically brings with it hotter, drier weather, and an increased risk of wildfires. “We’re concerned this year that we’ll see increased fire risk (versus) prior years,” said Trent Curtin, head of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the world’s largest volunteer firefighting force. Large parts of Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, endured sweltering summers, leaving vegetation tinder-dry and fuelling severe wildfires. …Australia has a long history of fighting wildfires, including the 2019 to 2020 Black Summer blazes that destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. …“For this year we’re alert but not alarmed,” said Alex Capararo, a sector commander for the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales.
A new chapter for FSC in New Zealand is taking shape, with New Zealand-based members unanimously voting to join Australia under a shared Australia and New Zealand’s (FSC ANZ) governance model. This decision marks an important milestone for FSC across the region, solidifying a formal role for New Zealand-based members in FSC Australia and New Zealand’s governance and laying a stronger foundation for expanding FSC’s work, engagement, and impact in New Zealand. …New Zealand-based directors will be added to the FSC ANZ Board at the next Annual General Meeting to strengthen New Zealand’s representation and voice across the organisation’s Environmental, Social and Economic chambers. …FSC ANZ is planning to establish a dedicated presence in New Zealand, adding a new team member based in the country to work closely with members, certificate holders and stakeholders on the ground. …For FSC, New Zealand is a crucial part of the organisation’s future.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said he wants to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists, following a wave of deadly forest fires. The official death toll stands at 12, but independent news outlets believe the figure is much higher. The president ordered the justice ministry to introduce changes to the criminal law introducing capital punishment for arsonists. Capital punishment remains in the country’s penal code for some offences, but no execution has been carried out since 1993. More than 100 wildfires have been recorded in recent days in the north-east of the country, most of which have been extinguished. …Under the current law, deliberately starting forest fires is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment in certain cases. …While Algeria regularly experiences forest fires around the summer months, climate change has exacerbated the intensity and severity of recent wildfires in the country.
FRANCE — The megafire in Gironde, southwest France, has been “contained” since July 30, but foresters are still prohibited from entering the heart of their plots that were ravaged by the flames. It is too dangerous: With lingering smoke and a still-hot ground, the passage of a vehicle could rekindle the embers. As with the nearby fire in Landiras in 2022, they will probably have to wait for the fall rains before the fire can be officially declared extinguished. A race against time will then begin to fell all the burned trees as quickly as possible before the appearance of the destructive bark beetle and in the hope of selling the timber for the best possible price, depending on the extent of the burn. …The most damaged parts could be turned into heating pellets, while the preserved sections could be used for pallets, the paper industry or as timber. [to access the full story a Le Monde subscription is required]
As the Southern Europe heats up, countries are spending billions on firefighting efforts. But wildfire experts say a greater emphasis on preventative measures is needed to stop this year’s disaster from becoming a regular occurrence. “[Scientists] totally agree that we pretty much know what we need to do, but we’re massively lagging behind,” says Stefan Doerr, a geographer at Swansea University. …“First of all, we have to stop climate change,” says Alexander Held, a wildfire specialist at the European Forest Institute. “But we can’t do this in the short term.” Instead, he says it is vital to modify the land to cut back on the accumulation of fuel. One strategy is to thin highly flammable vegetation by reintroducing grazing livestock, cutting back growth, or even using prescribed burning… Making landscapes wetter can also suppress fires. …Introducing strips of more fire-resilient deciduous trees, for example, is an option.
Europe’s forests are losing more biomass than previously thought, with disturbances such as drought and pests causing increasingly large losses from some of the oldest forests in Europe. This situation has deteriorated markedly since 2018. These are the findings of a 
The European Union Deforestation Regulation has been postponed, amended and simplified since it came about in 2023, yet the central compliance challenge confronting wood pellet producers has barely changed. Producers shipping into the European Union will need to demonstrate that their fiber is legal and deforestation-free, identify the plots where the wood was harvested and preserve the connection between those plots and the finished product. That requirement reaches beyond conventional sustainability certification and deep into supplier networks that were not designed to provide plot-level information. …The delay has given the industry a longer runway, but the remaining work lies at the hardest end of the supply chain: beyond the pellet plant, beyond direct suppliers and back to the land itself. Producers that can make that connection auditable will enter the next phase with more than a completed due diligence statement; they will possess a clearer view of the fiber networks on which their businesses depend.
With the impacts of climate change being felt across the globe, forests are under pressure as never before. While agriculture is the main driver of permanent deforestation, wildfires contributed 30% of tree cover loss and logging accounted for a 25% loss, according to WRI. This loss may be temporary, but forests can take decades to recover and may never return to full health. …Five years after countries pledged to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, there has been scant progress. And demand for timber, which is expected to grow 37% by 2050, could rise even higher if more wood is used for construction – a climate solution to replace high-carbon steel and cement. The most ambitious regulatory solution on offer is the EU’s deforestation regulation (EUDR), which will come into effect at the end of this year. …Supply chain leakage risks pushing illegal timber into less regulated markets. …Just 11% of timber firms can prove 90% of sourcing is deforestation-free.
Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reached a record high of 55bn t/CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2025, up by 0.9pc on the year, data from the EU’s independent emissions database for global atmospheric research (Edgar) show. These figures include the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector — which can act either as a source of carbon or a carbon sink. Excluding LULUCF, global GHG emissions rose to 54.1bn t/CO2e in 2025, an increase of 0.7pc on the year, Edgar found. The highest-emitting countries in 2025 were China, the US and India, with shares of 29.5pc, 11.1pc and 8.3pc of the global total, respectively, Edgar data show. …Of the top six emitters, the US and Indonesia recorded the most substantial increases in emissions in 2024-5 — a rise of 2.2pc or 131.5mn t/CO2e for the US and one of 1.2pc or 16.1mn t/CO2e for Indonesia.
Summer is winding down, vacations are ending, and the familiar September routine is kicking back into gear. As calendars begin to fill and priorities shift toward year-end planning, now is the perfect time to map out your business activities for the months ahead. One event should be at the top of your list: the CelCo Cellulose Conference in London this November. More than just a conference, this is where the global pulp, cellulose, and fiber industry comes together. Attending will give you the opportunity to connect with key industry stakeholders, strengthen existing relationships, gain valuable market intelligence, and increase your visibility within the sector. Think beyond the conference itself. Schedule customer meetings, supplier discussions, strategic partnerships, and networking opportunities around your trip. Maximize your time in London and turn a few days away from the office into months of business value. Make sure you’re part of the conversations that matter most.
Time is running out! The Cellulose Conference is fast approaching, and so is the end of our early bird pricing. Register today to secure the best rate before prices increase tomorrow. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders, discover the latest innovations, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of cellulose. Join speakers from Numera Analytics, Lenzing, CCF Group, IKEA, Maersk, Roquette, Acuity Commodities, and more for a day of forward-looking analysis and strategic discussion. Early bird registration ends in just a few days, so secure your place now and take advantage of the discounted rate before it’s gone. Registrations are coming in every day. Check out the companies already registered by clicking 
For the past decade, Japan has been expanding the use of woody biomass for power generation to replace or be mixed and burned with coal. The country is now the second-largest wood pellet consumer in the world after the U.K. But there are concerns that burning wood pellets or palm kernel shells to generate electricity might not be safe. In the past few years, there have been at least 14 fires, explosions and accidents at biomass power plants across Japan. These incidents, combined with rising prices, pollution concerns and growing opposition are leading some to question the future of Japan’s large-scale biomass plants, an estimated 34 of which produce 3.5 gigawatts of power. …in the rush to expand plants, corners may have been cut, including improper construction and substandard storage and processing of wood pellets, says Roger Smith, Japan director at nonprofit Mighty Earth. 
Almost 4 million hectares of land burned across Canada during this summer’s fire season, much of it in the remote boreal forests. …some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing wildfires now occur in the Arctic and boreal region, across eight countries to form a ring around the North Pole and making up the world’s largest biome. Primarily triggered by lightning strikes and exacerbated by global warming, which is warming the Arctic boreal forests at up to four times the global average, these fires are becoming a major source of worldwide carbon emissions. …Arctic and boreal regions store an immense amount of carbon. Boreal forests alone house roughly two-thirds of global forest carbon. …Protecting the boreal from wildfire is not only about safeguarding northern communities and ecosystems. It is an essential part of tackling climate change, protecting public health and building resilience for a warming world.
Scientist, Tim Searchinger, has resigned from the World Resources Institute amid disagreement over how to tally forest carbon in accounting rules that are under development. Those rules, which are being drafted by Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) — a global standard-setting body overseen in part by the non-profit — will shape how companies in the forest industry report their carbon footprints. A senior research scholar at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, Searchinger said that he will be leaving his role as technical director of land-related issues this month because of what he said are shortcomings in the GHG Protocol’s process in drawing up the new rules. …Danny Cullenward, a senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, stepped down from his seat on the body’s Independent Standards Board in June over the same issue. …The argument centers on two competing approaches to calculate carbon stores and emissions from forests. 
Another round of intense heat is expected to sweep across large swaths of Europe this week, following a record-breaking start to the summer in Western Europe. Forecasters warned that rapidly rising temperatures, combined with persistently bone-dry conditions, could worsen the severe threat of wildfires. The latest heat wave will be Europe’s fifth since May, as a broad area of high pressure — also known as a heat dome — intensifies across the continent. The new heat wave comes after Western Europe recorded its hottest June to July period on record, according to Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitoring service. The average temperature across the region during the two-month period was 21.62 degrees Celsius (70.92 degrees Fahrenheit), 2.79 degrees Celsius (5.02 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, which surpassed the previous record set in 2022. The most extreme heat is expected initially across parts of France, Spain and Italy before shifting toward Central Europe. [to access the full story a NY Times subscription is required]
ANKARA, Turkey — Firefighters on Tuesday battled a wildfire in Turkey’s Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya that forced hundreds of people from their homes and injured at least two people, the state-run news agency reported. The fire broke out Monday evening in Antalya’s Aksu district and, fueled by strong winds, quickly spread into the neighboring Kepez district, Anadolu Agency reported. Two people were hospitalized with injuries to their legs while six others affected by smoke were treated on site, the report said. Authorities evacuated people from at least 254 homes in Aksu and Kepez and temporarily closed a highway between Antalya and the city of Isparta, located some 130 kilometers (80 miles) north. More than 2,000 homes in the region were affected by power outages, Anadolu reported. The agency said at least five firefighting aircraft, 10 helicopters, 110 fire extinguishing trucks and 600 personnel were deployed to battle the blaze.
Paris, France – A record-breaking summer that saw more than 1,000 wildfires has torched some 540,000 hectares of land across the European Union since mid-June, according to official data. Multiple back-to-back heatwaves fuelled by climate change scorched Europe, causing more than 30,000 excess deaths, widespread drought and devastating wildfires that forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, particularly in Spain and France. Temperature records across the continent were smashed, triggering dangerous blazes even in normally cool, wet areas such as Belgium and Scotland. …Four of the EU’s 15 largest fires of the last 10 years occurred this summer, according to European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) data. …Before the end of July, France had already broken its record for the total area burned in a single year since records began. …Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy are among the other southern EU nations that experienced an active fire season, a common summer phenomenon in the region.
Pontianak, Indonesia – Toiling around the clock, haggard Indonesian firefighters on Borneo island cannot keep up with the blazes devouring landscapes and shrouding communities in a cloying haze. They are fighting a perilous battle with limited weapons against fires blamed in part on a stronger-than-usual episode of the El Nino climate phenomenon parching Southeast Asia. Experts also blame climate change, decades of forest degradation and slash-and-burn land clearing practices that have changed the naturally fire-resistant landscape. “We are exhausted. Sometimes we carry out firefighting until dawn. Sometimes we don’t sleep,” said Sampe Ritonga, fire chief for Sintang regency. …Some 400 kilometres (250 miles) away in Pontianak — the capital of West Kalimantan province — people have been breathing foul air for weeks. …on Sunday, the level of PM2.5 pollution exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic metre, according to IQAir, a Switzerland-based monitor. That is more than 100 times the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit
Firefighting crews continued efforts Tuesday to bring under control a forest fire that started Monday evening in Antalya’s Aksu district in southern Türkiye and spread to nearby Kepez. The fire began in a forested area near the Karaöz neighborhood in Aksu and spread toward Kepez as strong winds pushed the flames across a wider area. The blaze affected areas around the Karaöz, Hatipler, Yeşilkaraman, Kızıllı and Çamlıca neighborhoods. As a precaution, the Northern Ring Road and part of the Antalya-Isparta highway were temporarily closed to traffic. The road was reopened under controlled conditions Monday morning. The fire reached the Antalya-Isparta highway, but crews prevented the flames from crossing the road through intensive firefighting efforts. Aerial operations began early Tuesday, with five aircraft and more than 10 helicopters joining the response. Around 110 firefighting vehicles and more than 600 personnel are also working to contain the blaze. Authorities evacuated 254 homes in the two districts.
PARIS — Firefighters across Europe struggled against multiple fires Friday as a new wave of record-breaking heat baked a swath of the continent, their task further complicated by exceptionally parched landscapes. …With France experiencing its driest year ever, a new fire raced through woodlands overnight in the Landes region on the southwest coast. The blaze forced more than 500 people to evacuate their homes in the town of Luglon as hundreds of firefighters deployed to the area.
Thessaloniki, Greece –