Wildfires rage in Portugal, Greece, Spain; toxic smoke blankets Greek city

Hundreds of firefighters are engaged in battling wildfires across Portugal, Greece, and Spain, as the European continent experiences a severe fire season. Spain and Italy have dispatched reinforcements, including firefighters and aircraft, to assist Portugal with a massive blaze that has been burning for over three days.

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Authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, to remain indoors and shut their windows and doors due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant that was engulfed by a wildfire.

In Greece, authorities issued warnings for residents in parts of Thessaloniki to remain indoors and keep windows shut due to toxic smoke emanating from a recycling plant engulfed by a wildfire. Another significant wildfire erupted west of Athens, deploying 210 firefighters, specialized teams, and 29 aircraft, including water-dropping planes, to combat flames spreading through pine forests. Firefighters are working against time to contain this blaze before nightfall, when aerial operations cease.

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The fire department said 210 firefighters, backed up by volunteers, specialized teams and 29 aircraft, including water-dropping planes and helicopters, were deployed to battle the blaze burning through pine forest in the Mandra area.

Central Portugal is contending with a blaze that ignited Thursday, involving over 1,200 firefighters, nearly 400 vehicles, and 15 aircraft. This wildfire has consumed approximately 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres), according to data from the European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping agency. While the fire showed signs of abating by Sunday afternoon, with officials reporting no major active fronts, some hot spots persist.

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The wildfire had burned across an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) by Sunday, information from the European Union’s Copernicus satellite mapping agency showed.

Spain is also struggling with a wildfire in the northeastern Girona region that began Friday, burning nearly 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres). Eduard Martinez, head of operations for the Catalan Fire Service, indicated that the fire's 40-kilometer perimeter might not be fully controlled on Sunday. Meanwhile, a fast-moving blaze at a Thessaloniki recycling plant, which started Saturday evening, led to evacuation alerts and damaged businesses and homes. A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of negligence contributing to the fire.

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firefighters may not be able to bring it under control on Sunday