Forest Fires Europe

The arsonist's fire started on a 100-degree day deep in the Portuguese forest, fanned by a strong, dry easterly wind. Nearby, townsfolk celebrating the annual festival of their patron saint rushed to join the local fire station's bombeiros . The blaze raced through Vale de Tabuas, the "valley of planks," battled by 50 firefighters and civilians. Suddenly, directly behind them, a new wall of flames appeared. It was a new fire, another arson, and advancing fast.

Hundreds of wildfires burned across southern Europe, which remained in the grip of a heat wave that has driven temperatures as high as 120 degrees. The sizzling weather accompanied the worst drought to strike the Balkans in 50 years, which has already caused record crop losses since it began in late May. Ambulances patrolled the streets in southern Romanian cities to pick up people who had fainted in the 106-degree heat.

Hundreds of wildfires burned across southern Europe, which remained in the grip of a heat wave that has driven temperatures as high as 120 degrees. The sizzling weather accompanied the worst drought to strike the Balkans in 50 years, which has already caused record crop losses since it began in late May. Ambulances patrolled the streets in southern Romanian cities to pick up people who had fainted in the 106-degree heat.

The arsonist's fire started on a 100-degree day deep in the Portuguese forest, fanned by a strong, dry easterly wind. Nearby, townsfolk celebrating the annual festival of their patron saint rushed to join the local fire station's bombeiros . The blaze raced through Vale de Tabuas, the "valley of planks," battled by 50 firefighters and civilians. Suddenly, directly behind them, a new wall of flames appeared. It was a new fire, another arson, and advancing fast.