Two Greek firefighting helicopters collided midair on Sunday while trying to control a wildfire west of Athens. One of the helicopters crashed, as shown in footage. The Greek fire department recovered the four crew members: two were safe, but two were unconscious. This incident highlights the dangers firefighters face in Europe’s escalating wildfire crises.
Strong winds pushed the flames closer to Athens, forcing further evacuations. Meanwhile, in France, a vast wildfire continued to burn, covering a scar four times Paris’s size, while Spain managed to halt the advance of its major fires. Among these, Greece faced the most immediate threat. Flames encroached upon western Attica, near Athens, endangering communities and industrial regions near Megara. Strong gusts hindered firefighting aircraft from collecting seawater.
This situation resonates grimly with the 2018 Mati wildfire, which claimed 104 lives—a reminder of the region’s vulnerability. Drone images showed burned areas in Veniza near Megara.
“A pristine forest, a paradise, was surrendered to the hands of the fire,” remarked local farmer Minas Tzortzanis.
France’s largest wildfire contained itself within its perimeter while forcing evacuation of 224,000 people—the largest such effort since wartime. The blaze still burns within a 420-square-kilometer area, and thousands remain unable to return home. In France, nearly 3,000 firefighters continue battling the Gironde megafire and another uncontained fire in Provence.
Combined, fires in France and Spain have displaced roughly 330,000 people. Hot weather and dry conditions, exacerbated by human-induced climate change, have significant blame in intensifying these fires.
Across Europe, wildfires have claimed nearly 800 lives in four decades. Europe now faces threats due to its rapid warming, as it has warmed over twice the global average since the 1980s.
Near Athens, 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft worked against gale-force winds and flames. Authorities evacuated several areas, with crews especially concerned about Porto Germeno. The fire, which started near Agios Vasileios, forced sea evacuations of 254 people on Friday and another 12 on Saturday when roads were cut off.
Elsewhere, flames threatened homes on Kefalonia and another fire near Nea Tenedos in Halkidiki prompted aircraft intervention. This event follows the deaths of three firefighters earlier in the week.
France’s Gironde megafire remained within its set boundaries, maintaining a red forest-fire alert as dry, hot conditions persisted. Meanwhile, the Gros Bessillon fire in southeastern France was stabilized, though it remained uncontained. Roughly 2,500 people evacuated nearby.
In Spain, major fires stopped advancing, but crews continued guarding their perimeters. Zamora province faced particular concern with the Fermoselle fire, but most evacuees have returned home.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for an urgent national policy to address wildfires as a persistent threat.
This continued battle against wildfires in Europe underscores the urgent need for enhanced preparedness and response measures to combat the increasing frequency and intensity of these fires.
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