VOUZELA, PORTUGAL / EuroWire / – Firefighters in Portugal, Greece and Spain battled major wildfires on Sunday as heat, wind and dry ground strained emergency crews across southern Europe. The largest deployment focused on Portugal’s central Vouzela area. More than 1,200 firefighters worked there with nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft. The wildfire began Thursday and had burned about 12,000 hectares by Sunday, according to satellite mapping data.
Portugal received cross-border help after requesting support during a national wildfire alert. Spain sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to assist the Portuguese operation. Italy and Spain also dispatched three firefighting aircraft. The Portuguese Civil Protection authority reported that crews kept working against hot spots after the fire lost major active fronts. Officials kept restrictions in place on forest access, machinery use and controlled burns during the alert period.
The fires hit during a wider period of high wildfire risk across western and southern Europe. The European Union had prepared its largest wildfire response for the 2026 summer before the latest outbreaks. That plan included 777 pre-positioned firefighters in high-risk countries and a fleet of 22 firefighting planes and five helicopters. The system supports national services when countries request extra personnel, aircraft or equipment.
Reinforcements support Portugal
In Greece, emergency crews responded to fires near Thessaloniki and west of Athens. Residents in parts of Thessaloniki received instructions to stay indoors and shut windows because of toxic smoke from a recycling plant fire overtaken by flames. A separate wildfire in the Mandra area, west of Athens, drew 210 firefighters, volunteers, specialized teams and 29 aircraft. The Hellenic Fire Service deployed water-dropping planes and helicopters before night operations limited air support.
The Thessaloniki fire began Saturday evening near suburban areas and prompted evacuation alerts for Anthoupoli, Filothei and Galini. Emergency teams also evacuated a facility housing 157 people with disabilities. Several businesses sustained damage, while homes in the immediate area were spared. Authorities arrested a 76-year-old man in connection with the fire. Officials did not report a confirmed motive. Smoke spread over several suburbs and parts of western Thessaloniki.
Spain contains Girona blaze
In Spain, firefighters worked in the Girona region of Catalonia after a wildfire burned about 2,300 hectares in and around Les Gavarres. Catalan Civil Protection lifted confinement orders for affected municipalities after aerial checks confirmed the fire had stabilized. Around 12,000 residents had earlier been told to remain indoors. Some evacuated residents in Santa Cristina d’Aro and Calonge i Sant Antoni were allowed to return to homes outside the fire perimeter.
The Girona fire destroyed eight homes and caused 10 minor injuries, according to regional reports. Crews kept access limits on roads near the burned area to protect emergency work. Firefighters, civil protection volunteers, military emergency teams and farmers joined the response. Across Portugal, Greece and Spain, the main priority remained containment, public safety and keeping roads open for emergency crews as wildfire conditions continued across the region.