Firestorm: Wildfires Ravage Europe and the US
As the situation in France and Spain calms, Greece reports new fires and a dramatic collision of two helicopters. A state of emergency has been declared in the US state of Washington.
As the situation in France and Spain calms, Greece reports new fires and a dramatic collision of two helicopters. A state of emergency has been declared in the US state of Washington.
North America and Europe are facing devastating wildfires this summer, fueled by record heatwaves and prolonged drought. Scientists warn that climate change is further exacerbating these extreme weather conditions, creating fertile ground for a relentless firestorm.
Greek firefighters on Sunday, August 2, 2026, fought a tough battle against a large fire that destroyed more than 100 homes northwest of Athens. During the firefighting operation, an additional tragedy occurred when two firefighting helicopters collided. State television ERT reported that one crew member was found alive and safe, while the search for the other continues. Footage shows one of the helicopters exploding and falling to the ground in flames after the rotor collision.
Meanwhile, a new fire broke out on the popular tourist island of Kefalonia, forcing authorities to order new evacuations. Around Porto Germeno, on the coast of the Gulf of Corinth, 60 kilometers northwest of Athens, the strong winds that were fanning the flames have weakened. However, the fire crossed the mountain to the south and reached the settlement of Veniza and a military firing range, where it ignited unexploded ordnance. Firefighters focused their efforts on preventing the fire from spreading toward the coastal town of Megara, which has about 30,000 residents.
Unlike Greece, the devastating fires in France and Spain are showing signs of subsiding. In the French departments of Gironde and Var, authorities reported only minor hotspots, and the fire in Var did not spread overnight. In the town of Monfort-Sur-Argents, resident Georges Blanc, who had previously fled the flames, returned to his home and doused hot ashes to prevent the fire from reigniting.
In central Spain, the fires that have consumed tens of thousands of hectares in recent weeks are mostly under control, although firefighters are still battling flare-ups in some areas. In the western province of Caceres, a forest fire broke out on Saturday, prompting the evacuation of about 800 people. Evacuated residents were allowed to return home on Sunday but had to stay indoors as the fire remained active.
Across the Atlantic, a fast-moving fire swept through the US city of Spokane on Saturday, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency, noting that the Pacific Northwest state is facing its fourth consecutive year of drought. More than 200,000 acres (80,900 hectares) have burned across the state. Video footage captured by drivers passing through the city of 230,000 residents shows house after house in flames or reduced to ash, as wind-driven fires rage in hot and extremely dry conditions.
