The European Union has dispatched two firefighting planes to Spain to assist in combating raging wildfires after the country activated the bloc’s disaster assistance mechanism for the first time. This support comes as Spain recorded a third wildfire-related death on Thursday morning, raising concerns about the ongoing crisis.
Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet, forecasts that a heatwave will persist until Monday, with temperatures reaching up to 44°C in some areas. The combination of extreme heat and moderate winds has heightened fears that the wildfires could continue to spread. Spain is now the fifth European nation to request assistance for wildfire control, following significant blazes in Greece, where over 25,000 acres have burned since Tuesday.
Two French Canadair water bombers arrived in Spain’s northwestern Galicia region. Government representative Pedro Blanco emphasized the collaborative effort, stating, “The fight against fires knows no borders.” Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska indicated that while the planes were not yet needed, they were strategically positioned for rapid deployment if conditions worsen.
Tragically, a volunteer firefighter died from severe burns in León, marking the second such death in the region and the third overall. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences, saying, “All our love and support go out to their family and friends during this unbearable time.”
Wildfires have consumed over 157,000 hectares in Spain this year. The Civil Guard reported the arrest of two men suspected of arson in Castille and León, bringing the total number of arson arrests to ten since June. Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, including 700 residents who were ordered to flee their towns in the southwestern province of Caceres.
In neighboring Portugal, more than 1,900 firefighters are battling major wildfires, with one in Trancoso already burning an estimated 14,000 hectares. The Portuguese government has extended a state of alert for the entire mainland through Sunday.
Wildfires are a common occurrence in southern Europe during the summer months, but their severity can be exacerbated by heatwave conditions. EU data shows that around 629,000 hectares of land has burned across the bloc this year, with Spanish wildfires accounting for roughly a quarter of that total. While it is challenging to link climate change to specific weather events, scientists agree that it is contributing to hotter, longer heatwaves, which dry out vegetation and create favorable conditions for wildfires.
