the largest fire in Poland in the 21st century

A fire that for several days turned the largest national park into a scorched wasteland

Spring 2020 in Biebrza National Park was supposed to look like it does every year. Vast marshes and peat bogs were beginning to revive after winter, and the Biebrza Valley was filling with the sounds of birds returning to breed. This unique area, considered one of the most valuable natural regions in Europe, suddenly became the scene of the largest fire in Poland in the 21st century. The fire, which broke out in April, consumed thousands of hectares of protected nature and left behind a landscape of devastation.

The Day That Changed the Park

On April 19, 2020, morning fog hung over the Biebrza Valley. Nothing foreshadowed the tragedy. The first signals of a fire appeared in the afternoon, when flames were spotted in one of the reed beds. What initially seemed like a small fire quickly spiraled out of control. A prolonged drought had made areas that were usually waterlogged highly flammable. Dried peat ignited instantly, and strong winds began spreading the fire to new areas.

The peat bogs proved to be the greatest threat. The fire not only consumed vegetation on the surface but also smoldered underground, creating subterranean fires. Smoke emerged from seemingly calm places, only to erupt moments later into new flames. For firefighters, this meant battling a force that could neither be predicted nor easily contained.

The Fight Against the Elements

Hundreds of firefighters from across the country were deployed in the firefighting operation, supported by soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces, foresters, and national park services. The terrain was extremely difficult—boggy, unstable, and often completely inaccessible to heavy equipment. In many places, firefighters had to move on foot, struggling with thick smoke and high temperatures.

Helicopters and firefighting aircraft were used, dropping water on the most endangered areas. From the air, the park looked like a vast burning scar, with plumes of black smoke visible from dozens of kilometers away. On the ground, firebreaks were constructed, peat was excavated, and shifting wind directions were constantly monitored.

The operation continued uninterrupted for several days. Firefighters often worked for more than a dozen hours without rest, risking their health and lives. The greatest dangers were sudden ground collapses and flare-ups erupting from beneath the peat surface. Despite this, the efforts did not cease, and the determination of the services gradually allowed the spread of the fire to be contained.

The Scale of Destruction

Once the situation was brought under control, the true scale of the tragedy became apparent. The fire affected between 5,500 and 6,000 hectares of Biebrza National Park. Reed beds, meadows, and peat bogs burned—key components of a unique ecosystem. These areas were habitats for hundreds of bird species, including many rare and protected ones, as well as mammals, amphibians, and insects.

Although no human casualties were reported, the losses to wildlife were immense. Many animals had no chance to escape, especially young individuals and species tied to wetland environments. Scientists emphasized that the restoration of the destroyed ecosystems would take many years, and in some areas, full recovery might be impossible.

Causes and Consequences

The direct cause of the fire was identified as grass burning, which—despite existing bans—is still practiced. Combined with an extremely dry spring and low groundwater levels, this led to a catastrophe of unprecedented scale. The Biebrza National Park fire became a symbol of the threats posed by human activity and the consequences of climate change.

The disaster sparked a wide public debate on nature protection, human responsibility, and the need for better safeguarding of protected areas. For many people, images of the burning Biebrza were a shock and a reminder of how fragile ecosystems are, even those that seem permanent and resilient.

Memory and Recovery

Today, the Biebrza Valley is slowly regenerating. New plants are appearing in the burned areas, and nature is gradually regaining balance. However, the fire of 2020 will forever remain one of the most dramatic events in the history of Polish nature conservation. It is a warning that even the largest and best-protected areas are not immune to the consequences of human irresponsibility and a changing climate.