Fire services in Spain and France under increasing pressure due to heat wave

Fire services in Spain and France under increasing pressure due to heat wave

Firefighters in France and Spain are facing more pressure as the heatwave temperatures force wild fires to rage out of control.

In France, two huge fires south of the city of Bordeaux in south-west France have been ablaze for six days. The fires have forced evacuation of over 14,000 people, including tourists at nearby holiday campsites.

In Spain, firefighters have called in for support from the armed forces to help put out more than 30 fires that are consuming forests across the country. The Spanish National Defence Department stated that ‘most’ of its fire-fighting aircraft have been deployed, especially to help with fires in rural areas often surrounded by rugged and hilly terrain.

Some of the most worrying fires in Spain are concentrated in the western regions of Extremadura and Castilla y León.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has announced a joint command that will coordinate efforts to fight active fires in across neighbouring regions in Spain.

So far, there have been no fire-related deaths in France or Spain.