In an X post on Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced Apple will be donating to relief efforts on the ground in southern Europe following devastating wildfires in France, Spain, Greece, and other countries.
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in southern Europe. Thank you to the first responders, and to everyone still in harm's way, please stay safe. Apple will be donating to relief efforts on the ground.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 30, 2026
According to the European Union’s Joint Research Centre, so far in 2026, 434 976 hectares have been burned in Europe, significantly higher than the 346 836 hectares that burnt in 2025 (the worst year on record). 7.98 million tonnes (Mt) of CO₂ have been emitted into the air since the start of the year.
For the next week or so, quite extreme conditions will dominate a large area of western and central Europe, with the heaviest concentration across France and the Alpine arc extending into northern Italy, along with the British Isles and Ireland. Extreme conditions surround these areas, covering the wider Iberian Peninsula, the Balkans, and parts of North Africa.
Very high danger stretches across southern Scandinavia, parts of eastern Europe, and further pockets in North Africa. High to moderate danger covers scattered patches of eastern Europe and Türkiye.
Eastern Europe and Scandinavia remain at low fire danger.
While Apple has donated to the Red Cross for earthquake and hurricane relief efforts in the past, it traditionally doesn’t announce the amount of the donations. If you would like to contribute to Red Cross relief efforts, visit the Red Cross donation website.
Image Credit: REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
