July 3, 2025, 10:45 am | Read time: 9 minutes

In many vacation regions, record temperatures are expected again in 2025–on Crete, the first wildfires have already broken out in recent days. Some parts of the island face increased risk. Here are the rights of package tourists and individual travelers, and how to behave correctly in affected areas.

Currently Many Wildfires in Southern Europe

On Crete, several wildfires are currently raging, particularly affecting the region south of Ierapetra, reports the “Tagesschau.” More than 1,500 people have been evacuated and temporarily housed in hotels or sports halls. The flames are spreading quickly due to strong winds and are difficult to control. Numerous buildings have been damaged, and some people have complained of respiratory problems. Firefighters and civil protection are on the scene with hundreds of personnel and firefighting aircraft. The fire risk remains extremely high in many parts of Greece due to heat, dryness, and wind.

There are also wildfires in other regions of Southern Europe: In Turkey, several areas in Izmir had to be evacuated due to extreme wildfires, and in France, around 1,000 acres of land burned–a nuclear power plant was shut down due to overheating. At the same time, temperatures of up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit in Spain and Portugal are causing the highest wildfire risk.

When Can I Cancel My Vacation for Free Due to a Wildfire?

In principle, package travelers have the right to cancel without fees if their trip is foreseeably significantly affected by unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances. According to attorney Roosbeh Karimi from Berlin, a wildfire near the hotel with ash and smoke in the air is a reason to cancel the vacation. However, extreme heat alone is not sufficient for a free cancellation.

If the trip is not scheduled to start for a few weeks, there is no right to a free cancellation. Karimi advises canceling only at short notice. It is unlikely to be predicted when the fires will be extinguished. For the cancellation question, it depends precisely on that. Will the specific trip of the vacationer be significantly affected? This cannot be answered weeks in advance.

According to Karimi, it is also important that the booked region must be affected by a wildfire to cancel the vacation for free; a wildfire somewhere in the country is not sufficient as a reason.

What Applies to Package and Individual Travelers?

If the Foreign Office advises against non-essential travel to a country, the cancellation conditions depend on whether travelers booked with a tour operator or are traveling individually.

For package travelers, the same rights apply during travel warnings as during the coronavirus pandemic, explains Karimi. “In extraordinary circumstances, travelers can cancel for free.” This includes wildfires as well as political dangers and outbreaks of dangerous diseases.

Individual travelers cannot rely on canceling their vacation for free in the event of a wildfire. It depends on the country where the provider, such as an airline, is based and the laws that apply there, according to the attorney. In general, travelers are unlikely to see their money again. Therefore, it is best to book in advance with the option of “cancelable for free shortly before.”

Also interesting: In which cases can I cancel my package tour for free?

Wildfire Breaks Out During Vacation–What to Do?

If problems arise during a package vacation, according to the Consumer Center Bremen, there are two options: cancel the contract and return home or reduce the travel price.

Option one is possible as soon as the trip is significantly affected. Two scenarios for illustration:

Scenario One

A fire breaks out on-site, but people do not need to be evacuated immediately. Nevertheless, the vacation should be terminated at this point. In this case, travelers should primarily contact the tour operator, says Nicole Bahn from the Consumer Center Bremen. “Travelers should call the hotline.”

The operator must then clarify how and from where the return journey will take place. The phone call is considered a cancellation. The question of how this return journey is secured must also be clarified. Additionally, the consumer advocate recommends that travelers confirm the termination of the trip by email for their own safety.

Scenario Two

The traveler must leave quickly due to the emergency and cannot reach their tour operator. There is no time for a written cancellation. According to Nicole Bahn, all incurred costs such as train or bus tickets can be reimbursed in addition to the unprovided service–the missed remainder of the vacation. In this case, it is sufficient to send the tour operator an email with the necessary receipts.

In principle, if the trip includes both arrival and departure, the tour operator is responsible for safely transporting travelers back home. Therefore, they cover additional costs if the return journey is not possible as planned. If access roads are blocked and travelers must stay longer, the operator pays for accommodation for a maximum of three days.

Despite Risk on Vacation: Reduce Travel Price

If the traveler still wants to stay in the region and not cancel their vacation due to the wildfire, option two applies, and they may be able to reduce the travel price. According to consumer advocates, this is possible as soon as individual travel services such as transportation, meals, and accommodation no longer meet the booked standard. However, do not hesitate, and inform the operator quickly.

Under German law, individual travelers do not have to pay for already booked services such as flights and accommodation if they are not provided. According to the Consumer Center, this can be the case if the vacation region is closed. However, if the accommodation is accessible without the traveler being in danger, they rely on the provider’s goodwill.

Does Travel Cancellation Insurance Cover Wildfires?

Travel cancellation or interruption insurance does not help in unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances like wildfires, as such events are not agreed upon as reasons for cancellation or interruption, and they generally do not cover them, explains the Consumer Center NRW in a press release available to TRAVELBOOK. However, they do pay if, for example, significant damage occurs to the insured’s property.

What Can Cause a Wildfire?

Can glass shards cause a wildfire?

No, says Ulrich Cimolino, chairman of the Wildfire Working Group at the German Firefighters Association (DFV). Even under ideal conditions, this could not be proven in experiments. Whether with shards or bottle bottoms–the necessary ignition temperature was never reached.

It is a myth that shards can cause a wildfire through an alleged magnifying glass effect. Regardless, glass shards have no place in the forest.

Can my car cause a wildfire?

In short: Yes. With its hot exhaust system, a car can easily ignite ground vegetation. For example, according to TÜV Thüringen, the catalytic converter can heat up to several hundred degrees Celsius. Parking such a hot car on dry grass or forest floor can trigger a vegetation fire.

What Do I Do If It Burns?

How should I behave if I notice a wildfire?

“Better to call the fire department once too often than once too little,” says Ulrich Cimolino. The better the location information, the faster the search for the fire and firefighting can begin. No one should fear costs. Those who report a wildfire in good faith will not receive a bill or a citation.

Often, forest visitors cannot precisely explain where they are, says forester Rainer Städing. “But there are apps designed for the forest and orientation in emergencies.” The app “Help in the Forest” (Android/iOS) shows the nearest rescue point, and the reference code can help emergency services with orientation.

Should I extinguish small incipient fires myself?

“First call the fire department, then extinguish yourself,” says wildfire expert Cimolino. Once the fire department is alerted, you can also attempt to extinguish the fire yourself. “I can do this with water if I have water.” Or use branches with leaves to try to smother the fire or stomp it out with sturdy shoes.

Always pay attention to your own safety. If the flames or burning area are too large, it is better to get to safety. “Proper and sustainable extinguishing is difficult without sufficient water and tools,” says Cimolino.

What Is the Right Behavior in Case of Wildfire Danger?

The German Weather Service assesses wildfire risk in stages. If the wildfire risk is significantly increased, the forestry authority may even impose a ban on entry. The bans are often marked by appropriate signage and should be followed.

Basic prohibitions, such as a smoking ban in the forest or lighting a fire, such as for grilling, can exist regardless of the current wildfire level. “Then it’s better to wait with the cigarette until you reach the parking lot again,” recommends forester Rainer Städing. And then extinguish it on the gravel with enough distance from the vegetation.

More on the topic

Fire off Athens Is the fear of forest fires a reason to cancel travel plans?

Important Information Earthquakes in Popular Travel Destinations – What Travelers Need to Know

Overview Extreme storms and flooding in Spain – what vacationers need to know

Is Grilling in the Summer Even a Good Idea?

It is important not to grill or light a campfire directly in the forest or on adjacent meadows during outings. It does not matter if the fire pit is by a lake. A spark can cause damage in the surrounding area. Therefore, the German Forest Protection Association advises maintaining a minimum distance of 100 meters between the fire pit and the forest edge on areas bordering forests.

In some federal states, this is either legally required year-round or from spring until about the end of October. The same applies to smoking in the forest.

With material from dpa