Firefighters in southwest France are fighting against a mega-fire four times the size of Paris.
Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday. The heat wave and forecast winds could hamper progress against the blaze that has forced 220,000 people from their homes, authorities for the Gironde region around Bordeaux said.
Wednesday while battling a wildfire in the Rethymno region of Crete, Greece鈥檚 fire department said. They were among about 125 firefighters confronting flames fanned by strong winds, with four helicopters and four water-dropping planes deployed.
In neighboring Spain, people are bracing for the fourth heat wave of the summer, .
Across France and Spain, roughly 330,000 people have been driven from homes and vacation sites by huge wildfires.
Here’s the latest:
Evacuees in Spain worry about wildfire鈥檚 economic impact as they return home to destruction
A wildfire now under control near Spain鈥檚 capital, Madrid, was one of the worst the area has ever seen, taking a hit to small businesses in villages and towns in the region.
Evacuees have now been allowed to return to their homes and businesses 鈥� some of whom are taking in the destruction left by the blaze.
The Monasterio Camping site 鈥� which offered tent sites, static caravans and bungalows for visitors 鈥� was severely affected by the wildfires.
鈥淓conomically, it鈥檚 a disaster, especially during this time, as it鈥檚 the peak season,鈥� said manager Esteban Carrasco.
In the village of Pelayos de la Presa, the mayor is worried about the impact the fire will have on tourism. The village near the San Juan reservoir offers a green escape about an hour outside the capital.
Mayor Antonio Sin said he hoped authorities would 鈥渕ake a serious plan, based on a careful study of what we need to do, so that first, we restore it to its former state or make it even more beautiful, and second, to ensure this doesn鈥檛 happen again.鈥�
鈥楢pocalypse鈥� on land, and for businesses
The head of the local chamber of commerce in the Bordeaux region says callers who dialed in to telephone helplines have at times cried over the loss of their homes or appealed for support after losing their businesses.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a physical apocalypse when you see all these sites where there鈥檚 nothing left aside from burnt homes and forests, and then there鈥檚 the economic apocalypse,鈥� said Patrick Seguin, his voice choking with emotion in a phone interview.
He particularly lamented the ordeal faced by residents of Le Porge, a village where 183 homes were lost: 鈥淚t was like a village in Ukraine that has been bombed. There鈥檚 nothing left.鈥�
Two firefighters die in wildfire on southern Greek island of Crete
Two firefighters have died in a wildfire that broke out Wednesday on the southern Greek island of Crete, the fire department said.
The two were among more than 150 firefighters battling a wildfire in the region of Rethymno in Crete that broke out Wednesday afternoon.
鈥淭hey fell heroically in the line of duty to protect the lives and property of citizens and the natural environment,鈥� the department said in a written statement.
The flames were being fanned by strong winds in the area, which was hampering firefighting efforts. Four helicopters and four water-dropping planes were also deployed, the fire department said.
Evacuation orders were issued for several areas near the fire.
The circumstances of the two deaths were not immediately clear.
Local media said initial reports indicated that the two were trapped in their vehicle after becoming disoriented by the smoke.
Greece鈥檚 coast guard said two coast guard patrol boats and private vessels were on standby should an evacuation by sea become necessary in the Rethymno fire.
Spanish authorities say Madrid region and 脕vila wildfires under control, and lift more evacuation orders
By Wednesday afternoon, firefighters had stabilized forest fires burning in the Madrid region and province of 脕vila, Spain鈥檚 Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said.
Authorities lifted all evacuation orders in 脕vila and in additional villages affected in the Madrid region.
Together, the two fires burned about 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) 鈥� an area slightly larger than Chicago.
Despite the positive development, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez urged caution as much of the country was baking under a fourth heatwave that began Wednesday.
Firefighters continued to battle a large wildfire in Castell贸n in eastern Spain.
Hottest day this week in France
strips moisture from vegetation and drives down humidity, turning grasses, brush and forest litter into faster-burning fuel.
M茅t茅o-France said Wednesday would be the hottest and driest day of the week, with elevated wildfire danger across every region of France. Drought now covers mainland France and Corsica, with soils nearing the record dryness reached in August 2022.
Smoke from the Gironde and Landes fires also pushed particulate pollution higher across both departments, regional air-quality monitors said.
Gironde authorities ordered on Tuesday, widening what may be France鈥檚 largest peacetime evacuation.
鈥淭he situation remains complicated. That鈥檚 clear. We鈥檙e not out of the woods,鈥� said Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas, who also authorized 60,000 evacuees to return to three Bordeaux suburbs untouched by fire.
The opposing movements 鈥� thousands ordered out of coastal resorts as others returned with mobile phones on and emergency bags packed 鈥� captured how precarious the situation remains.
Turkish wildfire triggers evacuation
Turkish authorities have evacuated around 200 residents and a state hospital as a preventive measure, as the wildfire in southwest Turkey continues to rage.
Ahmet Aras, the mayor of Mugla province, says strong winds are hampering efforts to bring the fire under control. Earlier, the blaze forced the closure of a highway in the region.
Firefighters were also tackling wildfires in other parts of the country, including in the neighboring province of Antalya where a number of holiday homes were evacuated as a protective step, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Belgium sends planes, soldiers and firefighters to France to battle blaze
Belgium is deploying military staff and hardware to fight fires in France, the country鈥檚 defense minister said on Wednesday.
鈥淥ur military personnel have the expertise and resources necessary to support the fight against forest fires and thus help protect human lives, homes, and precious natural areas,鈥� said Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken, who posted videos online of 2 Panther firetrucks being loaded onto an A400M military cargo plane for transport to France.
As the pair of firetrucks take to the sky, a convoy of 9 water trucks with 10,000-liter tanks will drive to support France鈥檚 efforts to battle blazes. A total of 29 military personnel will be deployed to France for at least two weeks of round-the-clock rotational duty.
鈥淲hen a friendly country faces a crisis of this magnitude, we don鈥檛 respond with words, but with actions,鈥� Francken said.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said on social media that 鈥渋n these difficult times, our French neighbors can count on our solidarity.鈥�
UK authorities declare drought in about half of England
Britain鈥檚 Environment Agency said on Wednesday that about half of England is now experiencing a drought as the country entered its fourth heat wave of the year.
Parts of central, eastern, and southern England are facing drought conditions, which came on quickly due to a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures.
鈥淩ivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, wildfire risk is increasing, and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use,鈥欌�� the agency said in a statement.
This is England鈥檚 second drought in a row and the third in the past five years as Britain鈥檚 climate changes, the agency said.
England has now entered its fourth heat wave of the year. That, combined with July rainfall that has been 1% of normal in southern England, means that water storage is being depleted and there is 鈥渘o substantial rain on the way,鈥� the agency said.
Wildfire on Greek island sparks evacuations
In Greece, firefighters were tackling several wildfires around the country, with the most serious being one that broke out Tuesday on the Aegean island of Paros.
Authorities urged people to evacuate from around 10 areas on the island 鈥� five on Tuesday and another five during the night, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Reinforcements of firefighting teams specialising in forest fires were sent from Athens, and two water-dropping planes and five helicopters were helping nearly 90 firefighters battling the flames on the ground, the fire department said.
Bordeaux winemaker says mega-fire will be bad for business
The Grand Verdus wine chateau near Bordeaux isn鈥檛 in the path of the monster fire, but it is bracing for the economic impact.
Edouard le Grix de la Salle, who runs the family business with his brother, is alarmed that France鈥檚 interior minister and other government authorities have urged people to avoid the Bordeaux region because of the blaze west of the historic city. August is a peak period for tourism in southwest France.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible that they鈥檝e said such a thing, especially when wine tourism is becoming more and more important,鈥� Grix de la Salle said in an Associated Press interview. 鈥淗ow did they not think about protecting that sector? And the cultural sector too鈥攖here鈥檚 so much to visit in Bordeaux. There are so many museums, there are ch芒teaux. It鈥檚 unbelievable.鈥�
Wildfire shuts down highway in Turkey
A wildfire in southwest Turkey has forced authorities to temporarily shut down a highway from the popular tourist hub of Fethiye to the city of Antalya.
The blaze began in an agricultural area in Mugla province on Wednesday before spreading into a nearby forest area, driven by strong winds.
Five airplanes, 11 helicopters, 40 fire trucks and hundreds of personnel were dispatched to extinguish the fire, the Mugla governor鈥檚 office said.
The statement called on motorists to use alternative routes and not to block emergency lanes.
Thousands of evacuees in Spain set to return home as Castell贸n blaze challenges firefighters
Tens of thousands of evacuees in central Spain were expected to return home starting Wednesday after firefighters made progress with blazes burning in the Madrid region and 脕vila.
Authorities began lifting evacuation orders on several towns in the Madrid region late Tuesday, allowing some 20,000 people to return to their homes, along with 14,000 people who had been under shelter-at-home orders, according to Francisco Mart铆n, the Madrid region鈥檚 central government representative.
Some villages in 脕vila, which was battling the biggest fire in the history of Spain, were also expected to be allowed to go back to their homes. Authorities were expected to provide more details Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, 10,000 people were still under evacuation orders due to a wildfire in Castell贸n in eastern Spain that authorities said was still not under control.
Spain braces for another heatwave as it battles fires
Spain鈥檚 weather agency AEMET is warning that the risk of wildfires remains very high or extreme across much of the country.
Back-to-back heatwaves have suffocated Spain this summer, with temperatures repeatedly exceeding 40 Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
The fresh heatwave was expected to mainly affect the northeast and parts of central Spain, while temperatures were pushing 40 Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several inland areas in the normally hot, southern Andalusia region.
As heat wave stretches across Europe, UK health officials warn of risks
Temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) in eastern England on Wednesday, pushing parts of the country into its fourth heat wave of the year, according to the UK Met Office.
The U.K. Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat-health advisory for London and southeast England, warning of increased risk to older people and the very young that may strain health and social care providers.
Temperatures are expected to drop on Thursday, with forecast highs around 27 degrees C (81 degrees Fahrenheit), the Met Office said.
This spring was the warmest ever recorded in England, and temperatures remained well above normal in June and July, the Met Office said earlier this month. The average mean temperature in England was 2.4 degrees (4.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above average between June 1 and July 15, the agency said.
French firefighters鈥� battle plan is 鈥渨e strike quickly and strike hard鈥�
So says Matthieu Jomain, a commander in the massive effort to contain the mega-blaze in southwest France that鈥檚 burned through an area four times the size of Paris.
Speaking Wednesday, Jomain said the blaze burning since last week isn鈥檛 growing any more but still isn鈥檛 beaten. A heat wave that will further dry out already arid forests and scrubland is heightening the risk of flames flaring again. Fire crews are bracing for forecast temperatures above 40 C (104 F).
鈥淢ore than 2,200 firefighters are still deployed,鈥� he said. 鈥淎lmost all of France鈥檚 firefighters are there. Our European counterparts have come to lend us a hand on the ground and in the air. We have a fleet of over twenty aircraft.鈥�
鈥淭he strategy remains the same. We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions.鈥�
How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires
Wildfire smoke can settle over cities for days 鈥� like the recent blanket over parts of the U.S. from burning fires in Canada, which has for
Health officials advise people to stay indoors 鈥� and to take steps to keep the air in your home clean:
Survivors face an uncertain future
For the hundreds of thousands of evacuees, the question is the same: What will they find when they鈥檙e finally allowed to go home, or to what鈥檚 left of it?
With no word on when she鈥檒l be able to return home, Elvira Men茅ndez will spend her third night on Sunday at the makeshift shelter set up in a sports complex in Villaviciosa de Od贸n, a 40-minute drive from the home she was forced to leave as the blaze neared.
On Friday afternoon, two major fires near Madrid merged into a single blaze. It later combined with another that was already burning in 脕vila, north of the capital. This forced the government to declare a national fire emergency for the first time. Since then, the flames have also spread to Toledo, a province southwest. In all, the flames have scorched 77,000 hectares in the central part of the country alone.
Men茅ndez鈥檚 anguish was shared by Roc铆o Dom铆nguez, who fled her house with only the clothes on her back. 鈥淎ll the clothes, all the memories, everything, everything, everything,鈥� were left behind, she told The Associated Press.
French wildfire created a monster cloud, unleashing lightning that ignited more fires
France鈥檚 wildfire grew so powerful that its smoke column became a thunderstorm, generating lightning that struck the ground and ignited new fires beyond the original blaze, French officials said.
Put another way, that means the inferno was no longer simply being propelled by the weather. It was making its own. The thundercloud also produced violent, erratic winds capable of driving the flames in new directions.
The phenomenon, called a pyrocumulonimbus, or pyroCb, is rare in Europe and more commonly documented in North America and Australia, where it occurs only over some of the most extreme fires. France鈥檚 national firefighters federation said it had never before recorded one in the country.
At about 6:20 p.m. Friday, two days after the fire began, the departmental fire and rescue service said it had generated a pyrocumulonimbus. The cloud weakened overnight as humidity rose, then formed several times again.
Repeatedly, heat and smoke have surged upward into a vast black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within.
A 2:47 a.m. alert, a rabbit and 220,000 evacuees as France鈥檚 wildfire rages on
Europe is experiencing one of its biggest evacuations since World War II. Among the more than 220,000 people told to flee are Morgane Bonichot, her 9-year-old daughter and their pets.
Her daughter was in the blaze鈥檚 epicenter when it ignited last week, staying with an uncle in the midst of the pine forests, scrub and farmland being consumed by an inferno so virulent that it has morphed at times into a , spitting lightning bolts that have sparked yet more flames.
Among the fire鈥檚 first evacuees, the daughter came home Friday. But with the flames spreading closer to her mother鈥檚 house west of Bordeaux, the daughter began preparing to flee again.
All told, regional authorities have emptied two dozen towns and villages, some ravaged by fire. Others between the blaze and Bordeaux, including Saint-Jean-d鈥橧llac, were evacuated as a precaution by government officials who say their priority is making sure that no lives are lost.
Wildfires are more extreme in Europe and North America, but global burning is oddly decreasing
As wildfires in Europe and North America grow more extreme, key worldwide burning statistics are at a record low largely because Africa and Asia are controlling fire more.
Experts say these seemingly opposite trends are happening at the same time because of what humanity is doing to the planet.
Spain鈥檚 wildfire is at more than 193 square miles (500 square kilometers), while have burned just a bit under 2025鈥檚 all-time high. In and the this summer, land burned by wildfires is at least 25% higher than the 10-year average and more than double what it was decades ago, according to centers.
And yet the world went into July this year with record low global emissions from burning fires, a key measure of their prevalence, the European climate center Copernicus reported. That is because fires in Africa and Asia are way down due to changing agricultural practices, fire management and where people are moving to, said Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at Copernicus.
A heat wave threatens to reignite France鈥檚 mega-fire near Bordeaux
Fire crews battled a mega-fire four times the size of Paris in southwest France while facing tinderbox temperatures forecast to climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.
The heat wave and forecast winds could hamper progress against the blaze that has forced from their homes, authorities for the Gironde region around Bordeaux said.
In a Wednesday morning update on the huge firefighting effort, Gironde authorities said the situation overnight had been 鈥渃alm鈥� and that the blaze hadn鈥檛 spread 鈥� although it鈥檚 still not contained a week after it started.
The onset of heat-wave temperatures and winds heightened the risk of flames flaring again.
On Tuesday, Gironde authorities ordered 4,000 more people , widening what may be France鈥檚 largest peacetime evacuation.
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