Bodycam footage shows firefighters tackling Turkey wildfire
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Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘Uncontrollable' wildfires kill mayor in Portugal
A former mayor has been killed in 'uncontrollable' wildfires in Portugal as firefighters continue to fight huge blazes and searing temperatures scorch much of southern Europe. Nearly 4,000 firefighters have been deployed on several fire fronts in Portugal, with the government extending a state of alert until Sunday. The government in Lisbon made a formal request for assistance from the EU's civil protection mechanism, a firefighting force that can be called upon by countries in need The wildfires in Portugal claimed the life of Carlos Dâmaso, a former mayor of the town of Vila Franca do Deão. He died while helping to fight a blaze, officials said. He had been reported missing, and his body was found on Friday. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Portugal's president, offered his 'heartfelt condolences'. Authorities warned the fires were out of control because of a lack of resources, with villages encircled by flames and firefighters hampered by strong winds. In Spain, Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, said the country was at 'extreme risk' of new wildfires, particularly in the north and west. Firefighters were battling 14 major blazes across the country, where seven people have died as a result of the fires. A recent heat wave brought temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) and is expected to last all weekend. In the northern region of Galicia, several fires merged and forced the closure of roads. Rail services between Galicia and Madrid would remain suspended 'until further notice', transport officials said. Police arrested two men on suspicion of starting fires in Castille and León. Wildfires that have raged across Spain have so far this year burned 610 square miles – an area roughly as big as London. In Portugal, Spain and Italy, Friday was the Feast of the Assumption, a major Catholic holiday in which people flock to the beach and hold family gatherings. In the past week there have also been devastating fires in France, Bulgaria, Albania and Montenegro. In Greece, a wildfire burned out of control for a fourth day on the island of Chios, prompting the evacuation of more villages. Two water-dropping planes and two helicopters were operating in the north of the Aegean island, a popular tourist destination. Firefighters were given some respite with a lull in the high winds that had been spreading the flames. A firefighter was injured near the city of Patras after falling into a ravine while battling a blaze. He was rescued by colleagues and taken to hospital with injuries to his back and legs.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Former mayor is killed trying to defend Portuguese town from wildfire inferno - as apocalyptic blazes rip through Europe, ravaging Spain and Greece turning them into a burning hellscape
The former mayor of a Portuguese town has died after trying to fight dramatic wildfires which have ravaged Europe including Spain and Greece. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to Carlos Damaso, a victim of a fire he was fighting in his parish, asking that the current mayor of Guarda pass them on to his family. Mr Rebelo de Sousa added that he had cut short his holidays and returned to the presidential palace, joining a meeting of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. For numerous days now, several thousand firefighters have been battling fires in various parts of the country. Like its neighbour Spain, Portugal has invoked the EU's civil protection mechanism to ask for help, requesting four firefighting aircraft to use until Monday, the presidency said on X. Apocalyptic scenes have spread across Europe as dramatic wildfires bathe the countryside sickly orange, with blazes ravaging Portugal, Spain and Greece. One horrifying photo taken in the Sernancelhe district of Viseu, Portugal, shows a raging inferno and dark clouds of smoke threatening to completely submerge a house in flames. The sky is completely amber as an angry blaze continues to tear its way through the forest, making the air thick with smog. Nearly 4,000 firefighters are battling seven major fires across the country, in Tabuaço, Trancos, Sirarelhos, Sátão, Arganil, Vilarinho do Monte and Ermidas do Sado. Authorities extended the state of alert until Sunday, amid high temperatures expected to last through the weekend. 'We are being cooked alive, this cannot continue,' said Vila Real Mayor Alexandre Favaios, where a fire had been burning for 10 days. It comes as another heatwave pushes temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across parts of Europe. Global warming is giving the Mediterranean region hotter, drier summers, scientists say, with wildfires surging each year and sometimes whipping up into 'whirls'. Firefighters in Spain and Greece continued to battle wildfires Friday on a public holiday in all three countries as persistent hot, dry conditions challenged efforts to contain the blazes. Spain was fighting 14 major fires. Temperatures were expected to climb over the weekend. 'Today will once again be a very tough day, with an extreme risk of new fires,' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X. The national weather agency AEMET warned of extreme fire risk in most of the country, including where the largest blazes were burning in the north and west. A heatwave which brought temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on several days this month was expected to last through Monday. Fires in the Galicia region forced the closure of several highways. The high speed rail line connecting it to Spain's capital, Madrid, remained suspended. The fires in Spain this year have burned 158,000 hectares or 610 square miles, according to the European Union ´s European Forest Fire Information System. That is an area roughly as big as metropolitan London. Spanish authorities reported the death of a 37-year-old volunteer firefighter who sustained severe burns in an area north of Madrid this week. It was the third reported death in Spain due to the recent fires. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the region and still can not return. Temperatures reached 44 C (111 F) in some regions, according to meteorology service AEMET, with minimal rainfall and windy conditions expected to exacerbate the fire risk. In both Spain and Portugal it was the Feast of the Assumption, a major Catholic holiday usually marked by family gatherings and religious processions. A wildfire in Greece burned out of control for a fourth day on the island of Chios, prompting several more overnight evacuations. Two water-dropping planes and two helicopters were operating in the north of the island in the eastern Aegean Sea, where local authorities said a lull in high winds was helping firefighters early Friday. Following a series of large fires in western Greece earlier this week, the Fire Service was on alert Friday outside Athens and nearby areas in the south of the country where adverse weather conditions elevated the fire risk. The fire service said a major blaze outside the southern port city of Patras has been contained on the outskirts of urban areas after a large-scale deployment. Three people have been arrested in connection with the fire, which authorities said may have been deliberately set. A man also died in a fire in Albania, while a 61-year-old Hungarian seasonal worker is suspected to have died of heat-related causes while picking fruit in Lleida, in Spain's eastern Catalonia region. The spiritual leader of the world´s Orthodox Christians Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed solidarity on Friday with the victims of wildfires in southern Europe during prayers for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, an important religious holiday for Orthodox Christians. A drop in wind speeds on Thursday allowed firefighting aircraft in the three hard-hit countries to step up water drops, concentrating on existing fire zones rather than chasing fast-moving fronts.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Firefighters still battling North York Moors blaze with houses 30 miles away affected
Smoke from a fire which broke out in a large moor in Yorkshire has affected people living more than 30 miles away. Firefighters have been battling a blaze on the North York Moors, close to the RAF Fylingdales early warning station since Monday. On Friday, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said nine crews were continuing to tackle the blaze, plus another two dealing with a separate outbreak close to the A171 Scarborough to Whitby road, which had to be closed at one point. The smoke appeared to have reached the city of York and residents there have been urged to close their windows. At its height, 20 pumps were at the scene and a helicopter was used to try to control the blaze, as the fire service declared a major incident. The service said on Friday: 'We have nine fire engines at the incident on Langdale Moor. 'We're getting a lot of calls reporting smoke in and around York which we believe may be from this incident. 'We continue to advise people to keep their doors and windows shut if they are impacted by smoke. 'We also have two fire engines at the incident on the A171 near the Flask Inn.' There were also reports of people in the Malton area being affected by the smoke from the moor fire, 15 miles to the north. The blaze covered an area of more than two square miles at its height. This included an area which is on an old range and an Army explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene because of munitions in the area. The fire service said earlier this week: 'We have precautions in place for our crews at the scene, but people may hear explosions.' It said on Thursday that it did not know the cause of the fire. Firefighters also thanked people for their donations of water, other drinks and snacks which have been delivered to their base in the village of Goathland.
