The European Union has dispatched two water bomber aircraft to Spain after the country activated the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time in its history, as record-breaking heat fuels devastating wildfires across southern Europe.

Spain is enduring one of its worst wildfire seasons on record, with temperatures soaring above 44°C in several regions. The blazes have claimed at least three lives in recent days, including a civilian and a volunteer firefighter in the north-western province of León. Thousands have been evacuated nationwide, with 700 residents forced to flee their homes in the western city of Cáceres on Wednesday.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the EU assistance was requested to reinforce firefighting efforts in the hardest-hit areas. While the newly deployed aircraft are not yet urgently needed, authorities have placed them on standby as Spain’s weather agency AEMET warns that extreme heat and strong winds are expected to persist through Monday. “We are preparing for all scenarios to protect lives and land,” Grande-Marlaska said.

Firefighting operations have intensified, with over 10,000 personnel supported by 50 aircraft and helicopters battling the flames. In León alone, more than 5,000 hectares of forest and farmland have been destroyed since Monday. Satellite images on Wednesday revealed a new fire front in the Valencia region, prompting further evacuations.

Extremadura province, including Cáceres, remains under “red alert” for extreme fire risk, with dry conditions and wind gusts reaching 40 km/h complicating containment efforts.

Spain’s crisis is part of a wider European emergency. Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania have also activated the EU’s disaster assistance system. In Greece, wildfires have raged for three consecutive days, destroying over 10,000 hectares since Tuesday and injuring 95 people, including firefighters. The island of Chios and the Achaia region of the Peloponnese are among the hardest-hit, with residents evacuated by sea.

In Albania and Turkey, several firefighters have been injured, while Bulgaria and Montenegro report extensive damage to rural areas.

The EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reports that wildfire emissions in 2025 have already surpassed last year’s total, with air quality deteriorating in multiple regions.

EU data shows that 439,000 hectares have burned across Europe so far in 2025—more than double the 187,643 hectares recorded during the same period last year. A total of 1,628 fires have been detected since January, a surge experts link to prolonged droughts and extreme temperatures driven by climate change.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič stressed the need for solidarity, saying: “The escalating wildfire crisis demands a unified response. We are mobilizing all available assets to save lives and protect communities.”

Additional firefighting teams from France and Italy are expected to arrive in Spain and Greece by Friday. Authorities continue to urge residents to comply with evacuation orders as the heatwave shows no signs of abating, warning that the region faces a prolonged battle against one of the most destructive wildfire seasons in recent memory. (ILKHA)