https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Switzerland might have been hit by storms and downpours recently but one part of the country is on high alert over the risk of wildfires. The public have been warned to be vigilant. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250730/part-of-switzerland-placed-on-red-alert-for-wildfires Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:37:28 +0200 part-of-switzerland-placed-on-red-alert-for-wildfires Europe's blistering summer may not be over yet, but 2022 is already breaking records, with nearly 660,000 hectares ravaged since January, according to the EU's satellite monitoring service. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220814/2022-sees-record-wildfire-destruction-in-europe-eu Sun, 14 Aug 2022 10:47:15 +0200 2022-sees-record-wildfire-destruction-in-europe-eu The Swiss environment office raised the risk of forest fires in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino to its maximum level on Tuesday after a prolonged dry spell and strong winds provoked several blazes in the region. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170419/forest-fire-risk-raised-to-highest-level-in-ticino Wed, 19 Apr 2017 10:56:58 +0200 forest-fire-risk-raised-to-highest-level-in-ticino Over a week since a huge forest fire broke out in the canton of Graubünden the situation is finally under control, the Swiss government said in a statement on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170105/swiss-army-helps-win-battle-against-forest-fires Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:40:26 +0100 swiss-army-helps-win-battle-against-forest-fires The Swiss army has been drafted in to help battle a huge forest fire in Graubünden amid reports of a separate fire in the eastern canton. https://www.thelocal.ch/20161229/forest-fires-rage-on-in-eastern-switzerland Thu, 29 Dec 2016 10:30:34 +0100 forest-fires-rage-on-in-eastern-switzerland A large forest fire broke out in the canton of Graubünden on Tuesday night. https://www.thelocal.ch/20161228/firefighters-battle-forest-fire-in-eastern-switzerland Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:06:50 +0100 firefighters-battle-forest-fire-in-eastern-switzerland A 51-year-old man who was trying to extend the roof of a hay shelter in the canton of Graubünden ended up burning it down instead on Thursday afternoon. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160902/wasps-cause-man-to-accidentally-burn-down-haybarn Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:45:35 +0200 wasps-cause-man-to-accidentally-burn-down-haybarn Switzerland basked in a heatwave on Thursday, with parts of the country experiencing record temperatures for the time of year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160826/scorchio-late-august-heatwave-breaks-record-in-geneva Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:07:37 +0200 scorchio-late-august-heatwave-breaks-record-in-geneva Authorities in the canton of Valais have issued a warning about having fireworks and bonfires on Swiss National Day, August 1st, after the hot weather sparked a number of brush fires. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160729/hot-weather-causes-forest-fire-fears-in-valais Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:24:42 +0200 hot-weather-causes-forest-fire-fears-in-valais The canton of Valais on Thursday became the latest jurisdiction in Switzerland to ban campfires and those used for barbecues in wooded areas as the risk of forest fires spiked across many parts of the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20150709/lack-of-rain-enflames-forest-fire-dangers Fri, 10 Jul 2015 01:22:07 +0200 lack-of-rain-enflames-forest-fire-dangers The volume of timber in Switzerland’s forests has increased 1.5 percent in the past seven years, according to figures released by the federal environment department on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20141106/wood-volume-expands-in-swiss-forests-report Thu, 06 Nov 2014 20:46:00 +0100 wood-volume-expands-in-swiss-forests-report Dry conditions are sparking concerns about forest fires in several Swiss cantons after blazes broke out over the weekend. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140623/official-issue-warnings-after-forest-fires-break-out Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:14:00 +0200 official-issue-warnings-after-forest-fires-break-out