European Commission Strategy on Preparedness against Wildfires includes an Accessibility Provisions

European Commission Strategy on Preparedness against Wildfires includes an Accessibility Provisions

On 25 March 2026, the European Commission launched a new strategy to tackle the EU’s rising wildfire threat. 

The Strategy is organised around four pillars, under which different actions are proposed:

1. Wildfire prevention through landscape management and restoration.
2. Strengthening preparedness with better data and research.
3. Population awareness and preparedness.
4. Support for coordinated response.
5. Post-fire recovery.
6. Strengthening the management of wildfire risk.
7. International engagement.

Within the third pillar on population awareness and preparedness, the European Commission underscored the importance of addressing accessibility in evacuation planning and in information tools:

• A community approach to wildfire resilience can help people and businesses located in wildland-urban interface areas to increase their wildfire preparedness and reduce risk by taking active measures around their buildings, for example making their buildings fire-resilient, cleaning the surrounding areas and having an emergency evacuation plan, that also addresses accessibility needs for persons with disabilities and older people. 
• Ensure that information and tools for the public is accessible for persons with disabilities, facing discrimination, poverty and/or social exclusion, and older persons. 

More information about the European Commission’s Wildfires Strategy available here.