Europe wildfires live: Emergency response chief warns 'all of continent' could burn

Europe wildfires live: Emergency response chief warns 'all of continent' could burn Wildfires have ravaged large parts of Spain and France and the head of the EU's Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre has warned that other countries could be engulfed Europe's emergency response chief has warned that the entire continent could be engulfed by wildfires as a new heatwave sweeps across countries. Maria Zuber, head of the EU's Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre, said wildfires could engulf "all of Europe" within days. Her warning comes as wildfires ravage France, Spain, Greece and Portugal. "The next risk, it's already moving to Greece and also Central Europe," she told reporters yesterday. "Greece for the moment was spared, and now we see that it will go to Greece." "Italy will face risk at the beginning of August, and we will need to see what will happen with the Iberian Peninsula, because if (it is) there as well, we will have all Europe on fire." Three firefighters lost their lives yesterday while tackling wildfires in Greece as high winds have seen blazes spread across the islands of Crete, Paros and Lesvos, as well as mainland Greece, after days of devastation elsewhere on the continent. Key Events The huge fire that ravaged 42,000 hectares in Gironde remains "stable" after "a rather calm night", the prefecture said this morning, adding that it expects "rather favourable" weather conditions, with cooler temperatures and some showers expected. Temperature in the region are set to hover between 27C and 34C today - a significant drop from the scorching highs of 41C seen yesterday. Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said yesterday: "If the night goes well, we can reasonably be more optimistic for tomorrow [Thursday] and for the days to come, because the weather, finally, will be a little more favourable to us with a drop in temperatures. "And if this is confirmed, we can consider a return to a more normal life for the inhabitants." In Greece, two firefighters, aged 25 and 58, were killed yesterday when they became trapped while battling a blaze at Krya Vrysi, a small mountain village in Rethymno, on the island of Crete. Tragically, Padelis Diamadakis - the youngest of the two - had only just started working as a seasonal firefighter after completing his studies, according to Greek media. A third firefighter, aged 27, died after being found unconscious yesterday while tackling a wildfire iin Gytheio, a port town on the Mani peninsula in the southern Peloponnese region. Meanwhile, two firefighters narrowly escaped with minor burns after two fire engines were engulfed in flames yesterday during a wildfire in Sitia, Lasithi, on Crete, the Hellenic Fire Service said. The three deaths came as wildfires ravaged the islands of Paros and Lesvos. Fires have not spread compared to the previous days, the local administration for La Nouvelle Aquitaine et de la Gironde said in a statement on X. The amount of ground burnt remained at 42,000 hectares. Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson as firefighters try to stop the spread of wildfires near Bordeaux , according to reports from France24. The UK government says it is committed to working with France to address the 'threat' of wildfires and help out in the wake of the devastating impact currently being seen in France. In a statement, a government spokesperson said: "In the context of the unprecedented wildfires and heatwaves being experienced across Europe as a consequence of the global climate crisis, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Right Honourable Edward Samuel Miliband, and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, reaffirm their shared determination to address this threat. "The two Ministers affirm that this summer’s wildfires demonstrated the risks posed to Europe by climate change and call on all countries to intensify their efforts to tackle its causes while boosting resilience to its effects. "Building on the UK–France Declaration of Intent on Global Issues and Development signed in 2025, they commit to strengthening cooperation to anticipate, prevent and respond to climate-related risks, especially wildfires, as well as to deepen coordination through their broader climate and environmental partnership, including through multilateral fora. "Recognising that the increasing impacts of climate change know no borders, the United Kingdom and France will work together to advance international efforts on climate resilience, including through enhanced adaptation measures, strengthened preparedness and risk reduction, and coordinated responses to threats that affect our shared environment, security and prosperity." George and Amal Clooney have been forced to evacuate their home in Brignoles, in the south-east of France as wildfires ravage parts of Europe. According to People, the Clooneys wrote a letter to Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond addressing the wildfires. "Dear Didier, at this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment," the letter began. "As we evacuate Brignoles we want to emphasise two things, first we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we'll be part of making it whole." "Italy will face risk at the beginning of August, and we will need to see what will happen with the Iberian Peninsula, because if (it is) there as well, we will have all Europe on fire," Maria Zuber, head of the EU's Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre has warned. The wildfires in Spain have forced a community of Augustinian nuns to evacuate their monastery, The Catholic Weekly reports. A statement from July 27 said the sisters of the Monastery of the Conversion in Sotillo de la Adrada were evacuated July on July 25 and "had no choice but to leave the monastery." "We especially ask for prayers for all the volunteers and security forces who are tirelessly working to extinguish the fires," the statement read. Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters responded to the blaze in an East London suburb on the evening of Wednesday, July 29. Around four hectares of grassland was alight. France saw heatwave records in the southwest of the country as wildfires continue to rage. Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze) recorded 42.2°C, while Tarbes crossed the 40°C threshold for the first time in its history, with 40.2°C, after nearly 80 years of meteorological records. Huge flames and clouds of smoke can be seen rising from widfire in the Balikesir area of Turkey. Firefighters have been tackling the blaze in the north of the country while there are similar fires in the south which are in tourist areas like Antalya. Water has been dropped on the flames while firefighters are also tackling the blaze from the ground. Hundreds of firefighters have also been battling flames in the southern Mugla province, with more than 20 planes and helicopters dousing the flames, the agriculture ministry said. Two firefighters have died while battling a wildfire in the Rethymno region of Crete, Greece’s fire department said. They were among about 125 firefighters confronting flames fanned by strong winds, with four helicopters and four water-dropping planes deployed. The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately clear. The department said they died “in the line of duty to protect the lives and property of citizens and the natural environment.” A third firefighter was found dead later outside the perimeter of a separate wildfire in the Peloponnese. Today is predicted by the French national weather agency to have been the hottest and driest day of the week, with elevated wildfire danger across every region of France. Drought now covers mainland France and Corsica, with soils nearing the record dryness reached in August 2022. Smoke from the Gironde and Landes fires also pushed particulate pollution higher across both departments, regional air-quality monitors said. Gironde is France’s biggest wildfire battle, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said, with the advance of major fires in the Landes and Var regions halted. The Gironde fire has forced 220,000 people to flee at the peak of the crisis, tens of thousands have since been allowed home, but authorities warned that the danger had not passed. Extreme heat strips moisture from vegetation and drives down humidity, turning grasses, brush and forest litter into faster-burning fuel. Investigators believe contractors working near a high-voltage line for power-grid operator Enedis ignited the blaze while using a brush-cutting machine, Bordeaux prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul said. A level two extreme warning has been issued for wildfires in Fermoselle, Zamora, and surrounding areas. The Civil Guard said: "Evacuation and relocation of residents from several localities is underway, including the evacuation of the Muga de Sayago Nursing Home. "Exercise extreme caution and facilitate passage to emergency services." There are four levels from 0-3. More than 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft are mobilised to tackle flames in the south of France. “We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions,” Gironde fire commander Matthieu Jomain said. Beyond the command centre in Lege, civilians were trying to hold the line themselves. At Souge, volunteers flooded the edges of dirt tracks while a local digger driver plowed through still-burning soil, trying to keep flames from crossing back when the expected west wind arrived. In Lacanau, residents pumped water from a lake into tanks headed for hot spots and firefighters’ cisterns. “If one day the fire starts in our neck of the woods, I know very well that all the people here would do the same for us,” said Flavien Dubuch, 33, who drove from Saint-Émilion with his father to help. Firefighters are battling a wildfire in south-west France which covers an area four times the size of Paris as temperatures were forecast to reach 40C. Authorities in the Gironde region said the blaze had not spread further during a calm night but warned that forecast heat and winds could cause the flames to surge again. The landscape was so combustible that investigators believe routine brush-clearing work near a high-voltage line may have sparked the inferno, even though the work appeared to comply with regulations. A fire has reignited in the Var region, in the Jausseranne area, with 200 firefighters mobilised along with six firefighting helicopters and three more Canadair planes. The prefecture wrote on X: "Around 5 PM, a fire broke out in the Jausseranne area near the landfill southeast of Brignoles. It is currently heading north. 200 firefighters are mobilized, supported by 6 water-bomber helicopters and 3 Canadairs. "Do not go to the area. Priority to emergency services." Residents have been evacuated from seven towns near Bermillo de Sayago due to the advance of a forest fire Emergency services have also ordered the lockdown of Fermoselle, a municipality that has also been placed under lockdown, and images show huge flames ripping through the vegetation. The evacuated towns are: Cibanal, Formariz, Fornillos de Fermoselle, Palazuelos de Sayago, Pinilla de Fermoselle, Mámoles, and Záfara, where residents should go to Bermillo de Sayago. Authorities have reported an active forest fire in the Toledo municipality of Villamuelas. To control this outbreak, three aircraft, five ground vehicles and 30 forest firefighters and environmental agents have been deployed, reported the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Service of Castilla-La Mancha. Authorities have reported an active forest fire in the Toledo municipality of Villamuelas. To control this outbreak, three aircraft, five ground vehicles and 30 forest firefighters and environmental agents have been deployed, reported the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Service of Castilla-La Mancha. Authorities in Greece have said there is a "very high fire risk" for Thursday in the following areas: - Attica Region (including the island of Kythira) - Peloponnese Region (Corinthia Region, Argolida Region, Arcadia Region, Laconia Region) - Region of Central Greece (Region of Boeotia, Region of Fthiotida, Region of Phocis, Region of Evia, including the island of Skyros) - North Aegean Region (Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria) - South Aegean Region (Regional Units of Cyclades) - Region of Crete People have been told to be very careful to avoid actions which could lead to fire and also follow the latest information from emergency services. A wildfire is raging through a forest on Crete, with two firefighters killed. Evacuation orders are in place for five villages as high winds have fanned the flames. The firefighters were killed as they fought wildfire in the Krya Vrisi area of Rethymno. More evacuations have been ordered on the island of Lesbos and Peloponnese in southern Greece due to fire. A major fire has broken out north of the seaside resort of Lanton, in Gironde which is being tackled by emergency services and volunteers. Three Canadair water bombers are on site where a fire is ripping through a cornfield next to a forest, driven by winds and black smoke can be seen rising into the sky. "The objective is still to protect the houses," a firefighter told local media, with the aim of bringing the blaze under control. A scorching heatwave could force a nuclear power plant in south-west France to shut down for a second time this month. Operations at the Golfech nuclear power plant in the Tarn-et-Garonne department resumed on Sunday (July 26). The site's only operating reactor was shut down on July 9 for 17 days after temperatures in the River Garonne - which supplies the plant's cooling water - approached the regulatory limit of 28C. A spokesperson for France's state-owned electricity company, EDF, said at the time: "Weather conditions over the last few days have led to a significant rise in the temperature of the Garonne (river), which is expected to reach 28C this Friday July 10. “As a precautionary measure, production unit No. 2 at EDF's Golfech nuclear power station was shut down on Thursday July 9 at 11:30 a.m." Because nuclear plants use river water for cooling and discharge it at higher temperatures, EDF is required under French environmental regulations to ensure it does not discharge water that could harm aquatic ecosystems. In an update this morning, authorities in Gironde said wildfire conditions overnight had been "calm" and that the wildfire had not spread. The blaze, however, remains uncontained a week after it first broke out in a pine forest near the village of Saumos, about 25 miles west of Bordeaux. Soaring temperatures and strengthening winds are expected to increase the risk of the flames flaring up again. If you said you're worried, it's important to remember that British holidaymakers have been advised not to cancel their holidays until they've heard from their travel provider. More on this from reporter Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas. Authorities in the Gironde region said the blaze had not spread overnight, but rising heat and afternoon winds could revive smoldering hot spots, carry embers across firebreaks and open new fronts beyond crews' reach. More than 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft remained mobilised, backed by crews from across France and European partners. "We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions," Gironde fire commander Matthieu Jomain said. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Sunday that since the start of the year, wildfires in France have burned "far more than anything we have seen in the past". More than 116,000 hectares of land have been burned in France in 2026, including the 42,000 hectares ravaged in the Gironde region over the past week.