Spain faces a “complex” situation with “three very tough days” ahead as temperatures rise and stronger winds risk reigniting some fires, interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has warned.
Speaking to TVE, Grande-Marlaska said the progress in current firefighting operations was “reasonably positive,” despite increasingly challenging weather conditions, with focus on air surveillance to prevent further spread and reignitions. Temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s are expected across France and Spain.
Two firefighters killed in Crete
Two firefighters died battling a forest blaze on the Greek island of Crete, the fire department said. Deputy fire department spokesperson Yiannis Artopios told AFP: “Two firefighters fell in the line of duty.” State TV ERT reported the men were trapped by the fire in their fire engine near Rethymno. Significant wildfires were also reported on the islands of Lesbos and Paros.
EU solidarity and air quality concerns
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of European solidarity, posting on X: “As the fires in France and Spain continue to ravage, European solidarity knows no limit. Romania and Greece have decided to extend their missions, and from Saturday, Poland will join the fray.”
Large areas of “very” to “extremely” poor air quality were visible on Wednesday in Spain on the European Environment Agency’s monitoring site, along with a smaller area near Bordeaux. A 2024 study in The Lancet estimated about 1.5 million people a year die from landscape fire smoke.
Fire near Madrid stabilised
Grande-Marlaska also said the Sierra Oeste fire near Madrid has been “technically stabilised,” though he cautioned there is still much work to prevent flare-ups. All evacuation and stay-at-home orders in Ávila province were lifted.
Experts urge prevention
Moises Galan Santano, a wildfires expert at the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, stressed the need for prevention: “The [emergency] response is not only the answer. It’s the last answer. But it’s not all the answer. We need to focus on prevention.” This includes early-warning systems, grazing, and forest management changes.
Local residents described the situation as an ecological disaster. Jean-Claude Bonnet, a volunteer helper in France, told AFP: “I’m 67 years old and I’ve never seen anything like this. The worst part is seeing the animals that have been burnt to death by the side of the road. It’s an ecological disaster – call it what you will.”
