Firefighters race to extinguish blazes across EU as fire weather breaks records | Wildfires

As firefighters race to extinguish fires across the Mediterranean, new data shows fire weather in the EU has broken records for severity for this time of year.

Affected by carbon pollution, hot, dry and windy weather across the EU since the start of the year has been 43% more severe than the average for the end of July over the past two decades, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information Service (Effis).

Three firefighters died in Greece on Tuesday, while firefighters in France and Spain made progress overnight in fighting monster fires burning dangerously close to major cities, officials said.

Figures released on Thursday but may be revised later showed that 435,000 hectares (1,075,000 acres) have been burned so far this year; This is roughly triple the average in recent history. The devastation was the result of 1,400 fires, more than twice the average.

In France, where a fire in dense pine forests near Bordeaux grew large enough to create a rare storm, a total of 91,000 hectares burned, breaking the country’s one-year fire record, according to Effis; There is one month left until the end of summer.

Regional authorities in Gironde said the fire was under control after a quiet night, with work continuing on the edges and active hotspots. Temperatures are expected to be “fairly favourable” on Thursday, after Wednesday’s 38-degree heat and strong winds hampered firefighting efforts.

After giving the green light to 60,000 people on Tuesday, they allowed another 84,000 people to return home on Thursday.

According to Effis, in Spain, which saw the largest forest fire in history west of Madrid, a total of 207,000 hectares of land burned across the country. This figure is almost five times the average for this time of year, but pales in comparison to the devastation reached in late July during the 2022 fires.

Regional authorities in Madrid said the fire situation was declared “stable” but seven public housing residents were unable to return to their homes. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced the end of the national emergency in the regions of Ávila and Madrid on Thursday morning.

But a new fire near the Portuguese border forced the evacuation of 600 people, officials said. Spanish meteorological office Aemet said that temperatures above 35 degrees are expected in large areas in the interior of the country on Thursday, and high temperatures of 40-42 degrees are expected in some regions.

Wildfires in France and Spain this month forced more than 300,000 people from their homes and tourist accommodation, prompting both countries to request EU support in the form of firefighters, fire engines and water-dropping planes and helicopters.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked firefighters for their “courage and dedication” as she extended the stay of teams sent by Romania and Greece on Wednesday. “As fires continue to rage in France and Spain, European solidarity knows no bounds.”

Tough weeks are ahead as fires worsen in Italy and Greece, officials from the EU’s crisis management center said on Wednesday morning. Later the same day, the Greek fire service announced the death of two firefighters fighting a fire on the island of Crete and one firefighter in the south of the mainland.

Effis data up to 29 July shows Greece has had a relatively quiet fire season so far; There are slightly fewer fires than usual, but the area burned is well below average.

Meanwhile, Italy and Portugal saw near-record numbers of fires, with areas burned well above average. These countries have so far been spared the massive devastation experienced by France and Spain, but last week a firefighter in Italy died while battling raging fires in Sicily.

Climate collapse is causing Europe to burn this summer; Almost back-to-back heat waves dry out vegetation and provide a massive fuel surplus that allows small fires to grow into raging infernos.

Spanish prime minister Sánchez reiterated his call for a “national agreement” to address the climate emergency during a visit to a command center on Wednesday.

“These fires may or may not be caused by humans, but in any case, they are increasing exponentially as a result of these high temperatures, low humidity, and also the atmospheric events that these fires, these large fires, are causing in our forests,” he said.

Rapid analysis found Western Europe’s June heatwave would be “almost impossible” in a world without climate disruption, while levels of soil dryness – a key factor in larger fires – were five times more likely. The heatwaves are estimated to have killed at least 10,000 people and caused €2bn (£1.7bn) in property losses to grain farmers.

The rise in temperatures resulting from fossil fuel pollution comes as rural areas in Southern Europe are emptied, with farms being abandoned as populations age and young people move to cities. Overgrowth of vegetation has troubled firefighters and wildfire investigators in the Mediterranean.