PARIS – Fire crews in France and central England battled a series of wildfires Friday as another surge of extreme, record-setting heat swept across parts of Europe, turning already dry terrain into fast-burning fuel.
France, which is enduring its driest year on record, saw a fresh blaze tear through woodland overnight in the Landes region along the country’s southwest coast. Regional officials said more than 500 residents were evacuated from the town of Luglon as hundreds of firefighters were sent in to contain the flames.
The Landes fire is among several forest fires burning across France this week, including in areas such as the north and Brittany, which are typically cooler and wetter. Last month, a major wildfire near Bordeaux destroyed vast stretches of forest and forced around 250,000 people to leave their homes.
In the U.K., the hottest day of the year was followed by wildfires spreading through the West Midlands, where several homes were reduced to rubble. Simon Tuhill, the region’s chief fire officer, described the outbreak as “one of the most significant” emergencies the local fire service has faced.
Figures from the National Fire Chiefs Council show that England and Wales have recorded 1,017 wildfires so far this year.
The fires broke out as temperatures climbed to 38.1 degrees Celsius, or 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit, in west London, marking the U.K.’s hottest day of the year.
Across France, the national weather service reported temperatures nearing 41 C, or 106 F, on Thursday in several regions, stretching from Aquitaine in the southwest to the Rhone River valley in the east. Similar heat was expected Friday before a weekend cooldown.
Scientists have tied the rise in extreme heat events to human-driven climate change, with the latest European heat wave striking countries built more for long, cold seasons than prolonged high temperatures. Many homes and public buildings have limited air conditioning, leaving communities especially vulnerable.
In Croatia, seven people remained in life-threatening condition early Friday from a fire that raged overnight by the coastal town of Omis and forced more than 1,000 people to evacuate their homes.
The fire erupted late Thursday in an Omis suburb and quickly spread because of strong wind. Public broadcaster HRT said the blaze came close to the town’s center, and parts of Omis were left without electricity while many cars were burned.
Croatian media published photos from a crowded sports hall in Omis where people crammed on beds and on the floor. Witnesses told HRT that people were jumping into the sea after boats also caught fire.
Firefighters put out the blaze by Friday morning as other crews in planes headed further south toward the Peljesac peninsula where another wildfire broke out overnight.
Altogether, 36 people from Omis sought medical care. Fourteen were hospitalized, including the seven with life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, in northern Greece, more than 300 vacationers and residents were evacuated by sea Thursday after a wildfire swept through a pine forest and threatened seaside homes, authorities said.
