Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires in Portugal, Greece, and Spain on Sunday, with Spain and Italy sending reinforcements to Portugal to help with a massive blaze burning for more than three days, reports BritPanorama.
In Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, authorities urged residents to remain indoors due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant engulfed by wildfire. Another major wildfire broke out west of Athens, with the fire department deploying 155 firefighters supported by volunteers, specialized teams, and air support to combat the blaze impacting pine forests in the Mandra area.
In central Portugal’s Vouzela area, over 1,200 firefighters aided by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft have been mobilized against a wildfire that began on Thursday, according to the Civil Protection authority. This blaze has consumed an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres), as confirmed by data from the European Union’s Copernicus satellite mapping agency.
On Friday, the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid indicated that Spain dispatched 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to Portugal, while three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain also joined the effort. By Sunday afternoon, reports suggested that the fire in Portugal was showings signs of abating, though hot spots remained.
In Spain, a wildfire in the northeastern Girona region has scorched nearly 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) since Friday, with efforts to control it proving challenging. Catalan Fire Service operations head Eduard Martinez reported that the blaze had a perimeter of 40 kilometers (25 miles).
Toxic smoke from wildfire in northern Greece
Meanwhile, in Greece, a fast-moving wildfire erupted Saturday evening near the Oraiokastro suburb of Thessaloniki, prompting evacuation alerts for three suburbs and a facility housing 157 individuals with disabilities. Strong winds exacerbated the situation, leading to the deployment of around 160 firefighters who fought the flames overnight until water-dropping aircraft became operational at dawn.
Oraiokastro Mayor Pandelis Tsakiris stated that several businesses and homes sustained damage but that an accurate assessment will depend on a comprehensive evaluation by authorities. A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing the blaze through negligence after sparks from his vehicle ignited nearby vegetation; he is scheduled to appear before a prosecutor.
This incident followed a recent wildfire in a nearby area that resulted in the tragic deaths of a 12-year-old boy and his father.
Most fires in Greece caused by negligence, fire department says
Brig. Ioannis Artopoios of the fire department remarked that roughly 85% of wildfires in Greece result from negligence, often linked to agricultural machinery, discarded cigarettes, and outdoor barbecues. “This means most of them could have been avoided,” he indicated.
Greece often faces significant wildfire threats during its hot, dry summers, with devastating blazes recorded historically. In 2018, a wildfire near Athens claimed more than 100 lives, while a massive fire in 2023 was the largest documented wildfire in the EU.
Responding to the growing wildfire risks exacerbated by climate change, Greece is increasingly utilizing technology, having integrated four satellites into a monitoring system launched in May to detect wildfires.
This summer, Greece has avoided the extreme heatwaves affecting much of western Europe, though dozens of wildfires continue to arise across both the mainland and islands.
