Holidaymakers issued urgent advice after devastating wildfires across Europe
Anyone planning on heading abroad this summer is being advised to check their travel insurance and know what their rights are15:54, 14 Jul 2026British holidaymakers planning to travel this summer are being. . .
Anyone planning on heading abroad this summer is being advised to check their travel insurance and know what their rights are15:54, 14 Jul 2026British holidaymakers planning to travel this summer are being advised to review their travel insurance and know their rights. This comes after wildfires in parts of Europe have killed dozens of people and disrupted transport. High temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds have caused major wildfires across Europe during the third red-alert heatwave this year. In some parts of Spain, temperatures have reached 44C. A fire in the historic Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, forced residents to evacuate on Monday and disrupted road and rail services. In Spain’s Almeria province, at least 13 people have died after one of the country’s deadliest wildfires started on Thursday afternoon. The fire spread quickly due to extreme heat and dry conditions. As of Monday, 10 people were still missing after the blaze hit an isolated expatriate community in southern Spain. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued wildfire warnings for Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, and France, and travellers are urged to stay alert throughout the summer. "There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location. Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly," the FCDO warns. The latest advice has prompted questions from travellers over what happens if wildfires or other extremeweatherdisrupt holiday plans. Anna-Marie Duthie, a travel insurance expert at Defaqto, says that if your flight or holiday is cancelled because of wildfires, you should contact your travel provider and check with your insurance company to see what is covered. "If your airline cancels your flight due to wildfires, they should offer you the chance to rebook, or provide a full refund. "If your holiday was booked as a package, this refund should cover all elements, flights, accommodation and transfers. But if you've booked everything separately, you'll need to deal with each provider independently. ”Looking ahead, Duthie says climate change will likely bring new challenges for travel insurance. Major policy changes are not expected soon, but she warned that some destinations could become harder to insure and premiums could rise. "Whilst it’s difficult to know exactly how travel insurance may change over the next decade, longer term there is a chance that we may end up seeing less insurable destinations and increased premiums. What we do know, however, is that travel insurers are used to having to adapt to an ever-changing world. "She explained that policies may already refer to severe or extreme weather, but wildfire-related claims depend on the insurer’s definitions and level of cover. "Current clauses may refer to 'severe' or 'extreme' weather, but the definitions for these can vary, and currently no providers go as far as to specify criteria such as maximum temperatures. "Where the heat causes events such as the current wildfires, this is a separate consideration and would be classed as a catastrophe or natural disaster. Cover for this will all depend on your insurer's definitions and extent of benefits. "Travellers whose holidays are affected by changes to government advice may also have cover depending on their policy. "If government advice changes, advising against travel to the area after you have booked your trip, then you may be covered for cancellation or curtailment. "You may also be covered for additional travel and accommodation costs should your trip be disrupted due to a catastrophic event, if your insurer offers this cover or you've paid to include it. "Holidaymakers heading to wildfire-risk destinations are being advised to check their insurance terms before travelling and ensure they understand what support is available if extreme weather disrupts their plans. What to do if you are caught in a wildfireIf you are travelling near an area affected by Spanish wildfires, your immediate priority is to call 112 for any emergency and strictly follow all instructions from local emergency services and civil protection authorities. Avoid travelling into or through the affected area, and monitor media reports and updates from local emergency services on wildfires. British citizens should follow all FCDO advice, and if evacuated, carry only the essentials: water, documents, medication, and a phone. Will my insurance cover wildfires?Whether your UK travel insurance covers you depends on when you bought the policy, the exact wording of your contract, and official UK government advice. According to insurer Go Compare, protection against wildfires varies by policy. Some standard policies offer no cover at all, while more comprehensive ones may provide limited protection. If your travel insurance offers protection against wildfires, it will fall under the policy’s ‘catastrophe cover’. Catastrophe cover, or natural disasters cover, protects you against costs or damages caused by, or related to, an unforeseen natural disaster like a wildfire, flood or earthquake. According to Defaqto, only 50% of single-trip and 52% of annual travel insurance policies offer cover for catastrophes. Article continues belowSome insurers might offer it as an optional add-on, while others require you to upgrade to one of their more comprehensive (and more expensive) policies. The most important thing is to check your policy before you travel to see exactly what you are covered for.