Firefighting Efforts Amid Wildfires in Southern Europe

In recent days, wildfires have posed significant challenges in Portugal, Greece, and Spain. The intensifying flames have mobilized not only local efforts but also international support. Spain and Italy contributed reinforcements to Portugal, where a substantial blaze has persisted for over three days.

Wildfires in Greece

In Greece, residents of Thessaloniki were advised to stay indoors due to toxic smoke resulting from a wildfire at a recycling plant. This incident prompted officials to urge residents to seal their windows and doors. Another large fire erupted west of Athens, where 155 firefighters, alongside volunteers and specialized teams, battled the flames. Air support included 16 water-dropping planes and six helicopters to control the fire in Mandra, a pine forest area.

Portugal’s Ongoing Battle

Central Portugal saw over 1,200 firefighters equipped with nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft addressing a blaze in Vouzela. Since its onset on Thursday, the fire had engulfed 12,000 hectares, according to EU’s satellite mapping agency, Copernicus. Reinforcements from Spain included 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles. Additional aircraft from Italy and Spain also assisted. By Sunday, the blaze seemed to be lessening, although some hot spots persisted.

Spain’s Challenges

In northeastern Spain’s Girona region, a wildfire that ignited on Friday spanned approximately 2,200 hectares by Sunday. The operation was complex, with a 40-kilometer perimeter, making control efforts challenging, as noted by Catalan Fire Service operations head, Eduard Martinez.

Impact of Wildfires in Greece

In Greece, a fast-moving fire at a recycling plant near Thessaloniki led to evacuation alerts for surrounding suburbs and a facility for 157 disabled individuals. Strong winds exacerbated the situation, with 160 firefighters combating the fire into the night before airborne water drops could begin at dawn. Mayor Pandelis Tsakiris noted damage to businesses and homes, although assessments were pending. A 76-year-old man was apprehended for possibly igniting the fire through negligence.

Preventable Causes

Brig. Ioannis Artopoios of the Greek fire department highlighted that negligence caused 85% of Greek wildfires. Factors included sparks from agricultural machinery, discarded cigarettes, and outdoor barbecues. He emphasized that many of these fires were avoidable. Greece experiences frequent wildfires in its hot, dry summers, with major incidents recorded in recent years. Innovation in technology, such as deploying satellites to monitor wildfires, has become a part of Greece’s strategy to combat these threats exacerbated by climate change.

This summer, Greece has avoided extreme heatwaves affecting much of western Europe, yet it has dealt with numerous fires across its mainland and islands.