Hundreds of firefighters combat simultaneous wildfires across Portugal and Greece

ATHENS, Greece — Hundreds of firefighters confronted wildfires in Portugal and Greece on Sunday, with Spain and Italy dispatching additional personnel to assist in Portugal’s extensive blaze that had persisted for over three days.

Greek officials warned residents of certain districts in Thessaloniki, the nation’s second‑largest city, to stay indoors, close windows and doors, amid toxic smoke emanating from a recycling facility fire on the city’s outskirts.

In central Portugal’s Vouzela region, over 1,200 firefighters supported by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft worked on Thursday to suppress a fire that, by Sunday, had consumed approximately 12,000 hectares (120 km², 46 mi²), as reported by the nation’s Civil Protection authority.

The EU’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid agency noted that Spain contributed 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles on Friday, and that three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain were also deployed.

In southern Europe, a rapid wildfire ignited at a recycling plant Saturday evening near the Oraiokastro suburb of Thessaloniki, prompting evacuation orders for three nearby neighborhoods and a facility accommodating 157 individuals with special needs.

Strong winds intensified the fire, and roughly 160 firefighters contended with it throughout the night until dawn‑time aerial drop operations began, per the fire department.

Oraiokastro Mayor Pandelis Tsakiris, speaking on Greece’s state broadcaster ERT, reported damage to numerous businesses and residences caused by the fire, noting that a comprehensive assessment would follow.

Authorities arrested a 76‑year‑old man on suspicion of negligently igniting the blaze by creating sparks from his vehicle that ignited nearby vegetation; he is scheduled to appear before a prosecutor on Sunday.

The incident follows another wildfire in the area that, days earlier, claimed the lives of a 12‑year‑old boy and his father.

Fire department spokesperson Brigadier General Ioannis Artapoios, in a Sunday appearance on ERT television, stated that approximately 85 % of Greek wildfires stem from negligence — such as sparks from agricultural equipment, discarded cigarettes, or outdoor barbecues — and that many could have been prevented.

Greece routinely experiences frequent, often severe wildfires during its hot, arid summers; the 2018 blaze east of Athens resulted in over 100 fatalities, and the 2023 fire that swept a remote northeastern nature reserve became the largest recorded wildfire in the European Union.

In response to the growing threat of fires amplified by climate change, the nation is deploying a constellation of four low‑orbit satellites launched in May to detect wildfires.

Thus far this summer, Greece has avoided the extensive heatwaves that have recently afflicted much of western Europe, yet it continues to experience dozens of fires across both its mainland and islands.

Thus far this summer, Greece has avoided the extensive heatwaves that have recently afflicted much of western Europe, yet it continues to experience dozens of fires across both its mainland and islands.

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