Firefighters Combat Intense European Wildfires

Firefighters are battling intense wildfires across Portugal, Greece, and Spain. In Portugal, reinforcements from Spain and Italy arrived to assist in extinguishing a massive blaze that has been burning for over three days.

Wildfires Disrupt Thessaloniki

In Greece, officials urged Thessaloniki residents to stay indoors due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant engulfed by a wildfire. A separate major fire ignited west of Athens, prompting the deployment of 155 firefighters, plus volunteers and specialized teams, equipped with 16 water-dropping planes and six helicopters. The blaze is consuming pine forest in the Mandra area.

Portugal’s Escalating Wildfire

In central Portugal’s Vouzela area, over 1,200 firefighters, supported by 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft, worked to control a fire that began on Thursday. By Sunday, the fire had spread across 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres), as reported by the EU’s Copernicus satellite mapping agency. Help from Spain included 120 firefighters, 45 vehicles, and three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain.

By Sunday afternoon, the fire in Portugal showed signs of abating, with media reports indicating fewer active fronts, though some hot spots remained.

Spain’s Ongoing Challenge

In northeastern Spain’s Girona region, a wildfire that started Friday had burned around 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres), according to the EFE news agency. The Catalan Fire Service, led by Eduard Martinez, noted a perimeter of 40 kilometers (25 miles), potentially hindering control efforts by Sunday.

Smoke Hazards in Northern Greece

Northern Greece faced challenges as a rapid blaze at a recycling facility near Thessaloniki triggered evacuation alerts. Flames fanned by strong winds led to 160 firefighters working through the night. The Oraiokastro Mayor reported damage to businesses and homes, with a full assessment pending.

The fire’s suspected cause was negligence, as a 76-year-old man was arrested for potentially starting the blaze with vehicle sparks igniting roadside vegetation. The fire came soon after another tragedy claimed a 12-year-old boy and his father in a nearby area.

Common Causes of Greek Wildfires

Fire department spokesman Brig. Ioannis Artopoios stated that about 85% of Greek wildfires result from negligence, such as using agriculture machinery and discarded cigarettes.

Greece frequently experiences devastating wildfires, particularly during hot, dry summers. In 2018, a severe fire near Athens caused over 100 deaths. A major fire in 2023 impacted a remote nature reserve in northeastern Greece, marking the EU’s largest recorded wildfire.

Greece is employing technology to detect and manage fires, utilizing four satellites launched in May to monitor for blazes. The country has avoided the extreme heatwaves affecting western Europe this summer, yet numerous fires have emerged on both the mainland and islands.