Wildfires could engulf much of Europe in the coming days, the European Union's emergency response chief warned Wednesday, as two firefighters died battling a blaze in Greece and blazes continued to rage in France, Spain, and Portugal.
Maria Zuber, head of the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre, stated that the next few days would be "very difficult" and indicated the wildfire threat is moving east after significant fires in France and the Iberian Peninsula. Greece, Italy, and Central Europe are now projected to face the highest wildfire risk in the upcoming weeks.
"The next risk, it's already moving to Greece and also Central Europe," Zuber told reporters. "Greece for the moment was spared, and now we see that it will go to Greece. Italy will face risk at the beginning of August, and we will need to see what will happen with the Iberian Peninsula, because if (it is) there as well, we will have all Europe on fire."
These predictions are based on weather conditions conducive to fire ignition and rapid spread, including high temperatures, dry air, wind, and a lack of rainfall. Europe experienced its worst wildfire season on record in the previous year, with over a million hectares burned. Zuber noted that the fire situation in Europe this year has been similar so far, raising concerns about another record-breaking season.
The EU centre coordinates emergency responses by deploying resources like aircraft and firefighters to countries requesting aid. The center has dispatched seven planes and four helicopters to France and six planes and three ground forest firefighting teams to Spain. Some aircraft are pre-stationed in eastern and central Europe as the risk there increases.
Wildfires in Greece
On the Greek holiday island of Paros, nine villages were evacuated due to a growing wildfire. Footage shared on social media depicted flames rising above mountains and dark smoke clouds engulfing the island. Local media reported residents fleeing to beaches as instructed by emergency services. In Crete, two firefighters, aged 28 and 60, died after their vehicle became trapped while they were fighting a rural forest fire in the Rethymno area. According to Greek news outlet Proto Thema, emergency crews had been battling the Paros blaze non-stop since Tuesday afternoon. The fire department stated the men died "during an operation to contain a rural forest fire in the Krya Vrysi area of Rethymno."
State TV ERT reported that the firefighters were trapped by the fire in their fire engine in the foothills of a mountain near the western city of Rethymno. A local municipal official described the fire front as over nine miles long, stating, "The fire is out of control." Approximately 110 firefighters, supported by 27 fire engines and four aircraft, were deployed to combat the blaze, but strong winds complicated aerial firefighting efforts. Six villages had been evacuated so far, with a mayor noting that the wind's changing direction made it easy for crews to get trapped.
The response team in Paros includes 66 firefighters, specialized units from Athens, five helicopters, and two water-bombing planes, with reinforcements en route. A resident described the situation as a "real catastrophe" as the fire spread rapidly. Evacuation orders were issued for several villages, with authorities still assessing the extent of the damage, though two barns were reported burned.
In Crete, a separate wildfire in Moroni, Heraklion, was being addressed by a team of 58 firefighters. On mainland Greece, a fire in the seaside village of Ageranos in Laconia also prompted an evacuation order.
Fires in France and Spain
France and Spain have been battling some of the most severe wildfires in recent memory, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and destroying properties. In France, around 4,000 holidaymakers were evacuated from the popular beach resort of Lacanau, west of Bordeaux. Campsites, holiday villages, and tourist residences were cleared. The largest wildfire in France since 1949 has been raging west of Bordeaux for the past six days, displacing over 220,000 people and destroying 240 homes.
French firefighters reported being "on the offensive," working to contain blazes and create firebreaks. However, conditions are expected to worsen as a fresh heatwave approaches western Europe, with rising temperatures forecast for France and Spain. The economic impact on regions reliant on tourism is a significant concern, with reports of cancellations and a severe financial hit anticipated during the peak season.
In Spain, evacuation orders for 13 municipalities were lifted Tuesday afternoon. West of Madrid, in Aldea del Fresno, evacuated residents faced delays in returning to their homes due to smoke inhalation risks. Fires in Spain had consumed 190,000 acres, an area comparable to the size of New York City. Residents reported the smoke was so dense it was difficult to breathe, even with masks.