wildfires

FIRES across Spain have resulted in 11 deaths and widespread chaos, with tourists forced to flee their villas and evacuated from hotels.

Here is everything you need to know if you have a holiday to Spain coming up.

What is happening in Spain?

Extreme temperatures have resulted in wildfires in parts of Spain, along with France, Portugal and Greece.

The hot weather – expected to go over 40C this week – has resulted in dry forests and conditions, making them more prone to wildfires.

Local authorities have deployed over 150 firefighters and 200 military personnel to tackle them.

It is Spain’s worst wildfire in more than two decades and the Andalusia region’s most devastating in history

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Where are the fires in Spain?

The fires in Spain are predominantly along the south of the country.

The blaze broke out in Los Gallardos, Almeria, southern Spain, and have since spread to areas including Cadiz.

Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia are the other regions tipped to be worst-affected.

What is the current travel advice for Spain?

All of Spain still remains safe to travel to, according to the UK Foreign Office.

However, they do have updated the travel advice.

The website states: “Local authorities have reported a wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almería, in Andalucía. 

“If you are in an area affected by the wildfire: 

• for emergencies, call 112  advice on what to do when it comes to wildfires.
• follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services at all times 
• avoid travelling into or through the affected area 
• follow updates from the emergency services”

The UK government also has wider information on them in general, saying: “Wildfires happen often in Spain, including on the islands, during the summer months.

“Be aware of your environment when visiting or driving through woodland areas. For information on wildfire risk visit the Spanish Meteorological Office (AEMET).

“Causing a wildfire is a criminal offence in Spain, even if unintentional. Make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished, do not light barbecues and do not leave empty bottles behind.

“You can be heavily fined for not following the rules against lighting outdoor barbecues in forest areas. Make sure you know the rules if considering a barbeque.

“For information on what to do in the event of a wildfire, visit Civil Protection.”

Are holidays to Spain affected?

Most holidays remain unaffected if you are heading to Spain in the next few weeks.

Passengers will be contacted by their tour operator or airline if this changes.

The Foreign Office’s latest France travel advice has been updated with more information for Brits as wildfires have been raging across Europe and seen thousands evacuated from high risk areas

Wildfires have been raging across parts of Europe this week, affecting destinations including Spain, France, Portugal and Greece. Thousands have been evacuated as a result, with locals and tourists also being urged to ensure their phones can receive emergency alerts.

In southern France, over 10,000 people were evacuated from small towns and villages in the French Pyrenees, near the border with Spain, reports the BBC.

Meanwhile, spectators heading to watch the third stage of the Tour de France were urged to stay away on Monday, to make access easier for emergency vehicles in the area.

Following the wildfires, on Tuesday (July 7), the Foreign Office updated its France travel advice to warn Brits of the ‘high risk’ of fires in France over the coming months, and point to the existing advice it has on what to do if you’re staying in or near a high-risk area.

The updated advice warns: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. For advice, visit the wildfires section on the Safety and security page.”

The Foreign Office already had existing advice about the risk of wildfires in France, which always sits within its guidance. The latest update just reminds Brits that the advice exists, and where to find it.

At the time of writing, the guidance on wildfires in France reads: “Wildfires can start anywhere in France during the summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica.

“The French weather service has launched a fire alert map to help travellers stay up to date.

“Fires have become more frequent because of drought and high temperatures. French authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons. Causing a wildfire is illegal in France, even if it is started by accident. You could get a fine or a prison sentence.

“If you’re staying in, or near, a high-risk area see advice from the French government (in English) for information about:

• what to do if a wildfire breaks out
• how to prevent wildfire outbreaks
• protecting your home from wildfires (including mandatory bush clearance)

“If you are caught in, or witness, a wildfire, call the emergency services on 18 (fire) or 112 (emergency services).”

Tour de France fans have been urged not to attend the end of the third stage because of wildfires in the south of France.

Monday’s mountain stage will begin in Granollers, Spain, and conclude within 60 kilometres (37.3 miles) of some of the worst of the fires across the border in Les Angles.

While the 195.9km route is not expected to change, Tour organisers have asked fans and unessential personnel to stay away from the final 40km.

“An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour,” said race director Christian Prudhomme.

“We invite the public not to come to the edge of the race or to the finish site.”

Europe has been dealing with extreme heat and wildfires during the past few weeks, with a record-breaking heatwave recorded in June.

The fire that has affected the Tour is currently being contained within the Pyrenees-Orientales region, where aircraft have been deployed to battle the blaze.

A key stretch of the mountain pass providing access to the race will be closed.

Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated after a wildfire ignited near Perpignan on Thursday.

“We obviously think first of all of the populations who are affected by the fire, of all those who have to move, and then we also think about the people who would be here to host the Tour,” added Prudhomme.

Jonas Vingegaard holds a narrow lead over reigning champion Tadej Pogacar in the general classification standings after Isaac del Toro won stage two on Sunday.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an urgent travel warning to Brits heading to Portugal this summer

Brits heading to Portugal are facing an urgent travel alert this summer. The warning, issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), comes amid devastating wildfires sweeping through parts of the European nation.

More than 1,000 firefighters are tackling the blazes just north of Porto. Euronews reports that authorities have declared a red heat alert across the country, a firm favourite with British holidaymakers. Approximately 2.5 million Brits travel to the country annually.

An extreme high temperature warning has been put in place by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, covering Porto and regions to the north and east of the coastal city. In all, 12 of the nation’s 18 districts are on alert, from Thursday 2 July until at least Saturday 4 July, with a ‘persistent spell of extremely high temperatures, both daytime highs and overnight lows’.

The remaining six regions are under orange alert, heightening the wildfire threat. This has triggered a warning from the FCDO. It says: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October.”

It continues: “There is an increased risk of wildfires from April to October when the weather is hot and dry. Wildfires can start anywhere in Portugal.

“Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The Portuguese authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons.”

You should: “Starting a fire, even if it is by accident, is illegal and you could get a fine or a prison sentence. For information about active wildfires and forecasts, visit the Portuguese Met Office website for information on Portugal and Madeira.”

The Minister of Internal Administration has suggested the possibility of deliberate criminal activity behind the widespread blaze, which broke out overnight.

“Night-time does not usually provide conditions for ignitions to occur, and yet there were two ignitions at around 02:00–03:00 in the morning,” said Luís Neves, speaking to journalists in Torres Novas. He added that ‘everything indicates that there was, in fact, human involvement, criminal behaviour’.

THOUSANDS of people have been evacuated across the south of France due to huge wildfires across the region.

Along with flights being forced to divert, we’ve explained everything you need to know.

What is happening in France right now?

Extreme temperatures in France have resulted in huge wildfires that have sparked evacuations.

Emergency services including water-dropping helicopters and firefighters have been deployed, with more than 3,000 people evacuated, after highs of 44C have been reported.

The blaze in France is believed to have been sparked by a discarded cigarette butt.

Officials have spent much of the summer battling with wildfires in France, with over 9,000 reported along the Mediterranean coast.

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Where are the wildfires in France?

The current wildfires have affected the towns of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and Canet-en-Roussillon.

Three campsites popular with both locals and tourists were evacuated in response.

An airport in Perpignan was also forced to temporarily close with flights diverted to other airports such as Toulouse.

Two fires also broke out on the outskirts of Marseille, France’s second-biggest city.

Is it safe to travel to France right now?

All of France is safe to travel to, although the UK Foreign Office has some guidance regarding wildfires in the country.

It says: “Wildfires can start anywhere in France during the summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica.

“Fires have become more frequent because of drought and high temperatures.

“French authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons.”

It also warns that anyone who causes a wildfire – even by accident – can face fines and even prison.

Anyone caught up in a wildfire should call fire services on 18 or emergency services on 112.

April 25 (UPI) — Two wildfires in Georgia have burned thousands of acres and dozens of homes over a couple of days amid extreme drought in the Southeast.

The fires — the Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County and the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County — have between them scorched more than 40,000 acres and destroyed at least 120 homes, ActionNewsJax and CBS News reported.

Each of the two fires is roughly 10% contained, and are among a host of blazes being fought in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida, where the weather is not expected to cool off any time soon.

“So we got the two most dangerous, biggest, problematic fires anywhere in the United States in the small area we’re having to fight,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters on Friday.

“We need a change in the weather, but until we get that, we’re just going to stay after these fires and do everything we can to get them contained,” he said.

The Highway 82 fire, which grew overnight by a few thousand acres, has destroyed around 90 homes and businesses, is thought to have been started by a mylar balloon landing on a power line that started to spark, News4Jax reported.

The Highway 82 Fire so far has burned nearly 10,000 acres, prompting mandatory evacuations in some parts of Brantley County and voluntary evacuations across the entire county, according to reports.

Brantley’s county manager, Joey Cason, told reporters that strong winds are expected in the area later today and recommended that people follow mandatory evacuation orders if they are issued.

The Pineland Road Fire, which is burning on what is privately owned forest, was started by sparks from somebody welding a gate, ABC News reported.

That fire has already burned more than 32,000 acres and is experiencing the same weather conditions as neighboring Brantley County.