France and England battle multiple wildfires as record heat grips Europe

Firefighters across Europe faced multiple wildfires on Friday as record-breaking heat gripped the continent. The extreme temperatures, linked to human-caused climate change, hit countries more accustomed to long cold seasons and less prepared for such heat, with limited air conditioning.

In France, a historic fire in the Landes region on the southwest coast forced over 500 residents to evacuate their homes. This came amid several other fires burning in forests around France, including in typically cooler and wetter northern areas. France also shut down six nuclear reactors due to extreme heat and drought, though utility company EDF stated the shutdowns had minimal impact on electricity production.

In England, a large blaze in Stourbridge destroyed about 20 to 30 homes, with residents evacuated under police orders. Nineteen people and six firefighters were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and other injuries from multiple wildfires in the West Midlands region. Two individuals were arrested for suspected arson in relation to a large grass fire in Stoke-on-Trent.

Spain transferred the remains of three 11th-century kings from a monastery near an active wildfire to a museum south of the affected area. The wildfire, not yet contained, forced the evacuation of around 800 residents. Temperatures in Spain are expected to cool slightly on Saturday.

A separate wildfire in southern Spain has burned over 300 square kilometers, forcing evacuations in the village of Gey. All 1,800 residents were evacuated as winds in nearby forests threatened to spread the fire. Unexploded ordnance from World War II hampered firefighting efforts in the area. The cause of this blaze remains unknown, while Germany has set a new national heat record.