Firefighters across French-speaking Switzerland tackled far more vegetation fires this summer than in any of the past five years
Vaud alone recorded 609 fire-related callouts between June and August, its highest tally on record.
Valais counted 137 and Fribourg 60, both roughly double the year before, while the Chablais Vaudois saw brush and forest fires more than triple compared with 2025.
Total callouts, though, were not up, as fewer flood emergencies balanced the summer's heat and drought.
Fire services blame climate change and are urging residents to respect open-fire bans and always carry a way to put out a barbecue.
Lausanne bike shelters get an upgrade
Cook from Vaud goes global
Lake Zurich at record low
Ticks more prevalent in Switzerland
Winter flu wave expected
Cross border gun burglaries
