Southern fires in Europe and Turkey subside, temperatures climb higher
Headline: Forest Fires in Southern Europe and Turkey Contained After Intense Efforts
Firefighters in Southern Europe and Turkey have successfully contained the recent devastating forest fires, marking a significant relief for the affected regions.
In Turkey, the state news agency Anadolu reported that most forest fires were under control on Saturday, with firefighting efforts deploying extensive resources to quickly respond to the blazes. The country has been battling over 2,000 forest fires this year, according to the Ministry of Forestry and Environment. The efforts involve around 25,000 forestry personnel, 27 aircraft, 105 helicopters, and thousands of vehicles, achieving quick response times averaging 15 minutes, with aims to reduce this further to 12 minutes.
Similar efforts are underway in Southern Europe. In Spain, fires in Cuevas del Valle south of Ávila and the second major fire in Las Hurdes have been brought under control, while unexpected rain in Cuevas del Valle almost completely extinguished the flames. However, the situation remains tense, particularly in the south of the country, with the island of Sicily being particularly affected.
The heatwave is also expected to affect neighboring Spain. High temperatures do not directly cause fires, but they can contribute to small negligences, arson, or a lightning strike developing into fires that are difficult to control, especially in dry conditions. Heat also causes vegetation to dry out, making it easier for fires to spread.
The Greek fire service is on high alert, especially as it is expected to be very windy in some places in the coming days. Isolated fires were reported in the rural regions of Thrace and Izmir in Greece, but they were quickly extinguished.
In Portugal, the situation is most challenging in northern Portugal, where a fire near Ponte da Barca has been raging for days. The heatwave is also expected to affect the country, with Elisio Oliveira, head of civil protection, stating that the weather conditions are unfavorable, with a new heatwave expected with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
The challenges in controlling forest fires, especially in northern Portugal and similar northern Mediterranean areas, revolve around climate change causing hotter, drier conditions and shifting fire patterns northwards into regions less experienced in managing wildfires. Human factors such as careless behaviors (e.g., stubble burning, littering, cigarette butts) continue to be major causes, compounded by expanding urbanization and land use changes like mining and tourism development reducing forest land and potentially increasing fire risk.
Despite these challenges, the coordinated efforts of firefighters, aircraft, ground equipment, and local communities have enabled Southern Europe and Turkey to largely contain and extinguish numerous fires in 2025. The successful containment of a fire in Bursa province, Turkey, using such measures is a testament to these efforts.
However, the increasing frequency, intensity, and geographic spread of fires driven by climate change, alongside human triggers and land use pressures, present ongoing and intensifying challenges for effective containment, particularly in northern Portugal and similar areas newly vulnerable to wildfires.
References: [1] Anadolu Agency (2025). Most forest fires under control in Turkey, says state news agency. [online] Available at: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/most-forest-fires-under-control-in-turkey-says-state-news-agency/2078399
[2] Cyprus Mail (2025). Firefighting capacity boosted but Cyprus still struggles to contain fires amid prolonged drought and heat. [online] Available at: https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/08/01/firefighting-capacity-boosted-but-cyprus-still-struggles-to-contain-fires-amid-prolonged-drought-and-heat/
[3] European Forest Institute (2025). Wildfires in Turkey and Portugal highlight challenges of climate change and human factors. [online] Available at: https://www.efi.int/news/wildfires-turkey-and-portugal-highlight-challenges-climate-change-and-human-factors
[4] Reuters (2025). Wildfires force evacuations in northeastern Spain. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/wildfires-force-evacuations-northeastern-spain-2025-07-29/
[5] The Local (2025). Portugal wildfires: 14 dead as heatwave and dry conditions fuel blazes. [online] Available at: https://www.thelocal.pt/20250801/portugal-wildfires-14-dead-as-heatwave-and-dry-conditions-fuel-blazes
- The successful containment of forest fires in Turkey and Southern Europe this year underscores the importance of environmental science, including weather forecasting, in mitigating the impact of climate change on wildfire risk.
- While Scienctific advancements in weather-forecasting have aided firefighting efforts, ongoing challenges in controlling forest fires, particularly in northern Portugal, indicate the need for further research in climate-change and environmental-science to combat the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.
- As human factors like careless behavior and land use changes exacerbate the risks of forest fires, investing in environmental science and climate-change research becomes essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of both firefighters and local communities in the Mediterranean region and beyond.
