Wildfires Burn Across Portugal, Greece, and Spain

Hundreds of firefighters worked to stop wildfires burning across Portugal, Greece, and Spain on Sunday, July 6, 2026. The fires destroyed forests and buildings and sent dangerous smoke into the air. Spain and Italy sent extra firefighters and aircraft to help Portugal battle a blaze that had been burning for more than three days. In Greece, officials warned people near the city of Thessaloniki to stay inside and keep their windows shut because of toxic smoke.

In central Portugal, more than 1,200 firefighters worked to put out a large fire in the Vouzela area. They used nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft to fight the blaze, which had been burning since Thursday. By Sunday, the fire had burned through about 12,000 hectares, which is roughly 30,000 acres — about the size of many small cities. Officials said the fire seemed to be getting smaller, with no major active fronts left, though some hot spots were still burning.

Spain also sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to help Portugal on Friday. Three firefighting planes from Italy and Spain flew in to help as well. In Spain's own Girona region in the northeast, a separate wildfire had been burning since Friday, covering nearly 2,200 hectares, or about 5,400 acres. The head of the Catalan Fire Service said the fire's outer edge stretched 40 kilometers, and firefighters might not be able to fully stop it by the end of Sunday.

In Greece, a fast-moving fire started Saturday evening near a recycling plant outside Thessaloniki. Strong winds helped the fire spread quickly through the night. About 160 firefighters battled the flames, but water-dropping planes could not help until daylight. Officials ordered people in three nearby neighborhoods to evacuate, including residents of a building that housed 157 people with disabilities.

The mayor of the area said several homes and businesses were damaged, but a full count would take time. A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire by accident. Police said sparks from his vehicle set nearby plants on fire. He was expected to appear before a judge on Sunday.

At the same time, another wildfire broke out west of the Greek capital, Athens, on Sunday afternoon. The fire department sent 155 firefighters, along with volunteers and special teams, to fight the blaze. Sixteen water-dropping planes and six helicopters were also used to battle the fire, which was burning through pine forest in the Mandra area. The fire near Thessaloniki came just days after a different wildfire in a nearby area killed a 12-year-old boy and his father.

A fire department spokesman said about 85% of wildfires in Greece are caused by human carelessness. He listed common causes like sparks from farm machines, thrown cigarettes, and outdoor grills. "This means most of them could have been avoided," he said. Greece has long suffered from serious wildfires during its hot, dry summers.

Some of the worst fires in Greece's history have caused great loss. In 2018, a fire east of Athens killed more than 100 people. In 2023, a massive fire burned through a remote nature reserve in northeastern Greece — it was the largest wildfire ever recorded in the European Union. To fight back, Greece has been using more technology, including four new satellites launched in May 2026 that watch for wildfires from space. So far this summer, Greece has not faced the severe heat waves that hit western Europe, but dozens of fires have still broken out across the country.