When the wildfire season changes a holiday: why plan B is no longer an exaggeration but a necessity
The travel season is increasingly being planned with a question that, until recently, many considered secondary: what if the route, accommodation or entire destination comes under the influence of wildfires, smoke or closed roads within a few hours? Wildfires in open spaces are no longer just a local emergency situation, but also a factor that can change the course of a holiday, a business trip or a family journey. According to the European Commission, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of forest fires, which is why Europe is placing ever greater emphasis on prevention, preparedness and faster risk management. For travellers, this means that decisions are no longer reduced only to choosing a hotel, the price of a flight and the weather forecast, but also to checking air quality, road availability, cancellation conditions and a realistic return plan.
Such an approach does not mean spreading fear or giving up on travel. It is a practical adaptation to new conditions in which extreme heat, drought, strong wind and wildfires can combine into a chain of disruptions. The European Climate and Health Observatory, which operates within the European Environment Agency, states that wildfires can cause injuries, deaths and respiratory and cardiovascular problems due to exposure to smoke. Children, older people, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, outdoor workers and rescue services are especially exposed. This is why plan B no longer refers only to an alternative excursion in case of rain, but to a system of decisions that may include changing accommodation, postponing departure, alternative transport or an earlier return.
A wildfire does not have to be close to disrupt a trip
One of the most common mistakes in assessing risk is the assumption that a trip is not endangered if the fire is not located directly next to the hotel or apartment. Smoke, depending on wind and topography, can spread far from the fire site, and air quality can deteriorate even in cities that are not directly exposed to fire. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in their health recommendations for international travel, point out that travellers should take air pollution and local conditions into account, especially if they suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease or other conditions that can worsen due to airborne particles. In practice, this means checking not only the fire map, but also the direction in which smoke is spreading, the local air quality index and the recommendations of public health services.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particles, including PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. According to the European Climate and Health Observatory, exposure to smoke is linked to the worsening of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and the risk is higher for sensitive groups. This is important for travellers who plan their holiday as an active stay outdoors, for example hiking, cycling, camping or visiting natural parks. Even when local authorities do not order an evacuation, recommendations may include staying indoors, avoiding physical exertion, closing windows and using air-conditioned spaces with better air filtration.
Plan B therefore starts before booking. A traveller should check whether the destination is seasonally exposed to wildfires, what the situation was like in previous years and whether there are official warning systems that can be monitored. In Europe, an important role is played by the European Forest Fire Information System, known as EFFIS, which, within the Copernicus programme and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, provides updated data on fires, hazard maps and forecasts. According to the system description, EFFIS supports services responsible for forest protection and provides European Union institutions with reliable information on wildfires in open spaces.
Before booking, you should read the terms, not only reviews
In years when wildfires increasingly affect the peak of the tourist season, the most expensive mistake may be booking without understanding the cancellation conditions. Accommodation with a lower price often has stricter rules, and a refund may depend on whether the property is physically inaccessible, whether an official travel ban has been issued or whether the traveller personally decides not to travel because of general risk. If there is no official decision by the competent authorities or if the service formally remains available, voluntary cancellation may mean losing part or all of the amount paid. That is why, before paying, it is important to check the final deadline for free cancellation, the rules for changing dates, the possibility of transferring the reservation and the way in which the accommodation handles evacuation or the closure of access roads.
For package travel, the rules may be different than for a separately purchased flight and accommodation. According to the summary of European Union rules on package travel on EUR-Lex, a traveller may terminate the contract without paying a termination fee if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur at the destination or in its immediate vicinity and significantly affect the performance of the package or the carriage of passengers to the destination. In such circumstances, a refund of the amount paid is provided for, but not additional compensation for damages. This does not mean that every wildfire in the wider region automatically gives the right to free cancellation. The key question is whether the specific situation significantly affects the trip, whether there is an official decision or warning and how the package was contracted.
For air transport, it is necessary to distinguish between the right to care, the right to reimbursement or rerouting and the right to financial compensation. According to the Your Europe portal, if a flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, the airline must provide the passenger with information about the rules, and depending on the circumstances, the passenger may be entitled to assistance, reimbursement or rerouting. If the disruption is the result of extraordinary circumstances, the right to financial compensation may be limited, but the obligation of care and the offer of a solution do not automatically disappear. For the traveller, it is important to keep airline notifications, receipts for necessary expenses and written communication, because rights are often exercised afterwards.
Insurance is not the same as a money-back guarantee
Travel insurance can be useful, but only if it covers the actual risk that could disrupt the trip. Policies differ in whether they cover natural disasters, evacuation, trip interruption, additional accommodation, replacement transport, medical expenses due to smoke or the worsening of a chronic illness. Some policies exclude events that were already known at the time of purchase, for example a fire that is already active or an official warning that has already been published. That is why insurance should be purchased on time and the terms should be read, rather than relying on the general assumption that the word “travel” covers all scenarios.
When travelling to areas that regularly have a high wildfire risk in summer, it is also useful to check what the insurance requires as proof. These may include official announcements by civil protection, decisions by local authorities on evacuation, carrier confirmations of line cancellations, medical documentation or proof that accommodation is inaccessible. Without such documents, a compensation claim may be rejected, even if the situation on the ground was unpleasant or unsafe for the traveller. It is also important to distinguish inconvenience from an insured event. Poor air quality, a closed beach or a cancelled excursion will not always be sufficient for reimbursement of all costs, especially if the basic accommodation and transport service has not been formally cancelled.
Plan B therefore also includes a financial cushion. If a wildfire develops quickly, a traveller may have to pay for an additional night in another place, a taxi to an alternative station, a new flight from another airport or a car rental. Such costs may arise before the insurance company or carrier decides on the claim. Still, as soon as possible, receipts, screenshots of notifications, cancellation confirmations and official instructions should be saved, because without them it is difficult later to prove what happened.
Accommodation can be a key part of the safety plan
The choice of accommodation in a season of increased wildfire risk should not be based only on the view, distance from the beach or guest rating. It is important to check whether the property has several access roads, whether it is located in a wooded or isolated area, whether there are clear evacuation instructions and how the host communicates in emergency circumstances. A secluded apartment may be attractive for a peaceful holiday, but it can become problematic if the only road is closed or if the mobile signal is unreliable. A hotel or larger accommodation complex often has staff who follow local instructions and can organise information for guests more quickly, although even that is not a guarantee of safety.
Before arrival, it is useful to ask the accommodation facility which evacuation routes are closest, whether there is a parking area that enables a quick exit, where the nearest health points are located and whether early departure without additional penalties is possible if local authorities issue a warning. Such questions should not be seen as distrust of the host, but as part of responsible planning. In the event of worsening air quality, the possibility of staying indoors is also important. Air conditioning, windows that close well and proximity to a pharmacy or health facility can be decisive for people with respiratory problems.
Campsites, mobile homes and accommodation in natural parks require additional attention because they are often surrounded by vegetation, and with strong wind a fire can spread very quickly. Travellers should check the rules on the use of open flames, local bans on barbecuing or lighting fires and the system for informing guests.
Roads, ferries and trains can change at the last minute
Wildfires often affect not only the place of stay, but also the entire transport network. Roads are closed for safety reasons, trains are stopped if the railway is endangered, ferry lines may be delayed because of smoke, wind or the repurposing of capacity, and airports may temporarily restrict operations. In such circumstances, navigation apps are not always sufficient, because they do not necessarily transmit the latest decisions of the police, firefighters or civil protection. Before departure, official traffic information, local announcements and carrier channels should be checked. If travelling by car, it is useful to know at least one alternative route in advance and to avoid entering areas for which the authorities have issued a warning.
When travelling by public transport, plan B may mean arriving at the station earlier, leaving a buffer between transfers and avoiding itineraries in which missing one connection ruins the entire schedule. If travelling to an island or a remote coastal place, it is necessary to check what happens if the ferry does not sail or if access to the port is closed. When renting a car, it is useful to know whether the contract allows the vehicle to be returned in another city.
Air quality becomes part of travel documentation
Usual travel preparation includes personal documents, reservations and health insurance, but it should increasingly also include monitoring air quality. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the AirNow system, during wildfires air quality can change quickly, so it is important to know where reliable information is located and how to interpret the air quality index. Although individual tools are focused on particular countries, the principle is the same: a traveller should follow official or expert sources, not rely only on the impression from the balcony or photos on social networks.
For people with chronic illnesses, it is useful to speak with a doctor before travelling, bring enough medication and know when to seek help. Masks used against coarse dust or pollen do not necessarily provide sufficient protection from fine particles from smoke, and staying outdoors during elevated pollution can worsen symptoms. Children and older people often tolerate the combination of heat and smoke more poorly, so the activity plan should be adapted to them, not to the most resilient member of the group. If local recommendations are to stay indoors, a holiday may be reduced to waiting in a room, which is an important reason to consider changing the plan.
What a practical plan B looks like
A good plan B is not a complicated document, but a series of decisions made in advance. Before booking, it is necessary to check the seasonal risk, cancellation conditions, insurance policies and the availability of alternative transport. Before departure, contacts for the accommodation, carriers, local emergency services and diplomatic-consular missions should be saved if travelling abroad. During the stay, official notifications should be followed, the smell of smoke should not be ignored and the last moment for departure should not be awaited if the situation is worsening. In a group, it should be agreed in advance where the documentation is, who monitors notifications and how to act if members become separated.
A simple division of responsibilities is also useful. One person can monitor traffic information, another air quality, a third communication with the accommodation or agency. For family travel, the needs of children, older people and pets should be planned separately. In areas with a high wildfire risk, it is not excessive to have enough fuel, charged phones, offline maps and basic supplies for one day of unplanned waiting.
The most important thing is to accept that the decision to change the plan is not made only when the fire comes close. If services warn of very high or extreme risk, if smoke descends towards the place of stay or if roads are being closed, delaying can reduce the number of available options. Travellers often hesitate because they have already paid for accommodation or hope that the situation will calm down. But wildfires can change quickly, and the cost of changing the plan should be compared with the risk of remaining in an area where conditions are deteriorating.
Tourism is adapting to a new reality
The tourism sector is already feeling that extreme weather events affect travel habits. The European Travel Commission, in a report on climate challenges and the future of tourism in Europe, states that heatwaves, wildfires and floods influence tourism patterns and destination management. This may mean greater interest in travel outside the peak of summer, changes in the choice of destinations and stronger pressure on hotels, agencies and local authorities to give guests clear information.
For travellers, this brings a new kind of responsibility. Booking a holiday is no longer just a decision about price and wishes, but also an assessment of how resilient the plan is to disruptions. A flexible ticket, accommodation with reasonable cancellation conditions, insurance that truly covers natural disasters and readiness to change the route can make the difference between an inconvenience and a serious crisis. In wildfire season, the worst plan is the one that assumes nothing can change.
Sources:
- European Commission – forest fire risk management (link)
- European Environment Agency / European Climate and Health Observatory – health effects of wildfires and smoke (link)
- Copernicus / EFFIS – hazard maps, fires and risk forecasts (link)
- Your Europe – air passenger rights (link)
- EUR-Lex – EU rules on package travel (link)
- CDC Yellow Book – travel and air quality (link)
- AirNow / U.S. EPA – monitoring air quality during wildfires (link)
- European Travel Commission – climate challenges and tourism in Europe (link)