Spain
Last week, Spain battled its deadliest wildfire in more than four decades, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people. The fires trapped residents in the rugged village of Bédar, scorching around 7,000 hectares of land. Some 1,500 residents were evacuated from the fire zone in Almería province after flames broke out on Thursday night. Of the 13 people confirmed to have died, five were from the UK, three from Belgium, one French and one Spanish national. The others are yet to be identified. Several people are still reported as missing.
The devastating fires – among the worst in Spain’s history – are said to have been caused by unusually heavy rainfall in spring, which led to increased vegetation that subsequently dried in the extreme summer heat, causing fire to spread unusually quickly.
UK
While UK wildfires aren’t as common as in mainland European countries such as France and Greece, several reports of wildfires have already emerged this summer as much of the British Isles swelters under repeated heatwaves.
The National Emergencies Trust says: “The threat of wildfires has been on the rise in recent years as climate change is altering the landscape. Rising temperatures, prolonged dry spells and changes in vegetation patterns are creating conditions conducive to wildfires. While not as frequent as in some other parts of the world, the UK has experienced several significant wildfire incidents in recent years.”
As of 13 July, a ‘Major incident’ has been declared over a significant blaze in North Wales, requiring the evacuation of some local communities. The National Fire Chiefs Council’s wildfire tactical advisor, Dave Swallow, told Sky News that firefighters are tackling 19 wildfires across England and Wales, with the prolonged dry weather and winds “exacerbating the challenge”.
