Three firefighters lost their lives in Greece while battling vegetation fires, and authorities in several southern European states are trying to limit the spread of outbreaks fueled by a new heatwave.
Meanwhile, Spain, France, Portugal, and Turkey are dealing with widespread fires or the risk of rekindling already controlled outbreaks.
According to Sky News, citing European authorities and information from several affected states, the 2026 fire season risks becoming the worst in Europe's history, and the beginning of August could bring new fires to several regions of the continent.
"We could have all of Europe in flames"
Maria Zuber, the director of the European Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), warned that in addition to the fires already affecting Spain, France, and Portugal, there is a high risk of new outbreaks in Greece, Italy, and even Central Europe.
"If the fires in Portugal and Spain are not extinguished by then, we could practically have all of Europe in flames," the European official said, according to Sky News.
According to her, the abundant winter and spring rains led to the development of very rich vegetation, which dried quickly due to the extreme temperatures this summer and became fuel for fires.
Two firefighters died in Crete, the third in the Peloponnese
In Greece, two firefighters who were trapped by flames in the Rethymno region in western Crete died, as reported by BBC. A third firefighter was found dead near the port town of Gytheio in the southern Peloponnese Peninsula.
Witnesses say that multiple fires erupted almost simultaneously in Crete, and the largest fire front stretched for about 15 kilometers.
Residents and tourists were evacuated from the mountain village of Krya Vrysi, where the two firefighters lost their lives.
"The wind is incredible, sometimes you can't even stand. The flames were huge; it was truly terrifying," said local resident Chrissa Gioukaki to Reuters.
Vegetation fires also broke out on the islands of Paros and Lesbos in the Aegean Sea, as well as in the Trifylia area in southern mainland Greece.
Turkey closes a highway
Southern Turkey is also affected by fires. In the Muğla province, authorities temporarily closed the highway connecting the resorts of Fethiye and Antalya after a fire that started on agricultural land spread to a wooded area.
Five planes, 11 helicopters, 40 fire trucks, and hundreds of firefighters are involved in the intervention.
Spain battles its largest fire in history
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that the next few hours are crucial for extinguishing the fire near Madrid.
"Things are evolving favorably, but with maximum caution," he said, emphasizing that high temperatures, low humidity, and wind gusts can rapidly change the situation.
The fire in the Ávila province, about 150 kilometers west of Madrid, has already consumed over 43,000 hectares and is considered the largest vegetation fire ever recorded in Spain.
Since the beginning of the year, fires have destroyed over 207,000 hectares of land in the country.
Francisco Bolaños, the coordination operations manager, stated that the fire did not advance during the night, but there is a risk of reignition due to very high temperatures. The teams' priority is to stabilize a perimeter of about 180 kilometers.
Meanwhile, authorities have allowed tens of thousands of people to return home in the regions of Toledo, Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón.
The mayor of Chapinería, Lucía Moya, said the damages are enormous. "Many residents have lost their homes and jobs. Returning to normal will be a very difficult process," she said.
On the other hand, the fire in Vall d'Uixó, northwest of Valencia, is not yet under control.
France remains on alert
In southwestern France, the fires in the Gironde region are under control, but authorities warn that temperatures could reach 41 degrees, and the wind favors the rekindling of outbreaks.
The mayor of Le Barp, near Bordeaux, Blandine Sarrazin, stated that the situation "is becoming increasingly difficult" after new fires broke out, urging residents to be "extremely vigilant."
Rekindlings have also been reported near Lanton, on the eastern shore of the Arcachon Bay. Gironde and Landes are among the 16 areas under an orange heatwave alert.
Firefighters have taken special measures to protect strategic targets in the French defense and aerospace industry, including facilities where hazardous materials used in rocket production are manufactured.
Fires also in Portugal
Vegetation fires are affecting northeastern Portugal as well.
In the Vila Real district in northeastern Portugal, a vegetation fire continues to spread over a distance of about one kilometer. Firefighters are closely monitoring a water treatment plant and a gas depot near the town of Valpaços.
Europe warms twice as fast as the global average
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is the continent warming at the fastest rate, at about twice the global average, as reported by the BBC.
Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, and dry vegetation and prolonged periods without precipitation favor increasingly extensive and harder-to-control vegetation fires.