Fire crews in Greece, Spain, and Portugal are working urgently to contain wildfires as of Thursday. They are taking advantage of calmer winds that have slowed the spread of the blazes. However, much of southern Europe remains at high risk due to ongoing hot and dry conditions.

The decrease in wind speeds has allowed firefighting aircraft in these three countries to increase water drops. They are focusing on existing fire zones instead of pursuing rapidly advancing fronts. Authorities have warned that extreme temperatures are expected to continue.

In Spain, officials reported the death of a 37-year-old volunteer firefighter who suffered severe burns in an area north of Madrid. This marks the third reported death in Spain linked to the recent wildfires. Thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes and are still unable to return.

In Greece, the Fire Service announced that a significant blaze near the southern port city of Patras has been contained on the outskirts of urban areas following a large-scale firefighting effort. Authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with this fire, which they suspect may have been intentionally set.

The European Union’s civil protection agency has responded to requests for assistance from Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania this week. The agency has dispatched firefighting planes and helicopters from other member states. It noted that it has activated assistance 16 times this summer due to a high number of catastrophic wildfires across Europe. The number of activations for 2025 has already matched the total for the entire 2024 fire season.