Wildfires rage in Portugal, Spain and Greece as authorities warn of toxic smoke

In Greece, residents near Thessaloniki—the country’s second-largest city—have been instructed to remain indoors with windows and doors sealed. This directive follows a fast-moving fire that engulfed a recycling plant near the Oraiokastro suburb. The fire, which broke out on Saturday evening, forced the evacuation of three suburbs and a facility housing 157 people with disabilities. Strong winds complicated the efforts of 160 firefighters who worked through the night until aerial support could join the operation at daybreak. Pandelis Tsakiris, the mayor of Oraiokastro, confirmed that while several homes and businesses sustained damage, a final assessment remains pending.

A separate major wildfire emerged Sunday afternoon in the Mandra area, located west of Athens. According to NBC News, the fire department deployed 155 firefighters to battle the flames in the pine forest, utilizing 16 water-dropping planes and 6 helicopters. Reports from the Somerset County Gazette indicate a slightly higher figure of 210 firefighters and 29 aircraft for the same location. Authorities faced a race against time to gain control of the perimeter before nightfall, when limited visibility prevents aircraft from continuing firefighting operations.

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Investigations into the causes of the Greek fires are ongoing. A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting the Oraiokastro blaze through negligence after his vehicle allegedly generated sparks that ignited nearby vegetation. Ioannis Artopoios, a fire department spokesperson, stated that approximately 85% of wildfires in the country are attributed to negligence, including the use of agricultural machinery, improperly discarded cigarettes, and outdoor barbecues.

"This means most of them could have been avoided."

Ioannis Artopoios, fire department spokesman, via NBC News

Regional Fire Status

In Portugal, the situation in the central Vouzela area has required a significant international response. More than 1,200 firefighters, supported by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft, have been working since Thursday to combat a blaze that has scorched 12,000 hectares. The European Union’s Copernicus satellite mapping agency provided data detailing the scale of the damage. Spain contributed 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to the effort, while both Italy and Spain dispatched three firefighting aircraft to assist. By Sunday afternoon, local officials reported that the fire no longer presented major active fronts.

Spain is simultaneously managing its own emergency in the north-eastern Girona region. A wildfire that began on Friday has consumed nearly 2,200 hectares. Eduard Martinez, head of operations for the Catalan Fire Service, noted that the fire’s perimeter spans 40 kilometres, and firefighters expressed concerns that containment might not be achieved by the end of Sunday.

The current fires follow a broader pattern of environmental pressure in the region. Although Greece has avoided the extreme heatwaves that impacted other parts of western Europe during June, the nation has seen dozens of blazes across its mainland and islands. To manage this threat, the government has begun integrating a network of four satellites launched into low orbit in May for wildfire monitoring. These efforts are part of a long-term strategy to address risks heightened by climate change, particularly following devastating events in 2018 and the record-breaking fire that occurred in 2023.

What to Watch Next

• Full damage assessments in the Oraiokastro suburb following the recycling plant fire.
• Containment progress for the ongoing blaze in the Girona region of Spain.
• Legal proceedings for the suspect arrested in connection with the Oraiokastro fire, who was expected to appear before a prosecutor Sunday.
• Weather conditions in Greece, where strong winds remain a primary obstacle to firefighting efforts.