Spain Issues Heat Alerts with Elevated to Extreme Fire Hazard Risk
Spain Faces Devastating Wildfires Amidst Record-Breaking Heatwaves
The 2023 wildfire season in Spain has been marked by severe heatwaves and dry conditions, leading to numerous large wildfires. By mid-August, approximately 91,220 hectares have been burned, with 371 recorded fire incidents [1].
The impact of these wildfires has been significant. Extensive damage has been reported in rural and forested areas, threatening small communities, and prompting a major deployment of firefighters and emergency services. The wildfires have also resulted in a notable rise in wildfire-related carbon emissions, contributing to regional air quality deterioration due to elevated PM2.5 levels [1][2][3].
One of the most affected regions is Galicia, where fires have burned for longer durations than in past decades. Raton, a volunteer, witnessed the devastation firsthand, describing scenes of burned people being evacuated, cars on fire, burning tractors, warehouses, and garages [6]. Tragically, three people have lost their lives during the fires, including two young volunteers in their thirties [7]. One of the deceased volunteers, Jaime Aparicio Vidales, was buried in the town of Quintanilla de Florez, Zamora province, Castile and Leon [8].
The Spanish government is taking various measures to combat the wildfires. Continuous monitoring and early warning systems, such as those provided by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), are in place [2][5]. Thousands of firefighters and military personnel, including international aid, have been deployed to tackle the blazes [2][5]. Public warnings urging precautions during high-risk periods, the use of water-bombing aircraft, and coordinated fire containment strategies are also being implemented [2].
However, the wildfires continue to rage, with some 10 main roads in Spain currently closed due to the fires [9]. The searing heat has spread to Cantabria, a region that had previously been spared [10]. The risk of fires in Spain is "very high or extreme" on Friday, and over the weekend into Monday [10].
In an effort to prevent future wildfires, Angel Roman, the mayor of Ferreruela, suggests establishing fire breaks cleared of brush around villages to prevent fires [11]. The political row between Pedro Sanchez's Socialist PSOE party and the conservative PP over the fire crisis continues, with accusations being exchanged over the government's handling of the situation [12].
Meanwhile, in Greece and the Balkans, lower temperatures, reduced wind, and rain are helping to improve the fire situation [13]. Firefighters remain in Patras, Greece’s third-largest city, due to "scattered" fires and are on the look-out for any reignition [13].
References: [1] El País, 2023. Link [2] BBC News, 2023. Link [3] The Guardian, 2023. Link [4] Science Daily, 2023. Link [5] Deutsche Welle, 2023. Link [6] ABC News, 2023. Link [7] Telegraph, 2023. Link [8] CNN, 2023. Link [9] Reuters, 2023. Link [10] Sky News, 2023. Link [11] The Local, 2023. Link [12] El Mundo, 2023. Link [13] Al Jazeera, 2023. Link
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