Third summer heatwave brings deadly fires to Western Europe

Neena Mae Rayos, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
July 14, 2026

(Photo Courtesy: Stephane Mahe | Instagram)

PARIS – A wildfire near the historic Fontainebleau royal palace forced the closure of a major motorway and required the deployment of hundreds of firefighters.

This marked the first time water-bombing aircraft were used in the Greater Paris area to combat a blaze.

Western Europe is currently facing its third heatwave of the summer, creating tinder-dry conditions that have ignited devastating wildfires from the Iberian Peninsula to France.

Scientists attribute the increased frequency and intensity of these blazes to climate change.

SUMMER HEATWAVE

Additionally, the death toll from a severe wildfire in Spain’s Almeria province has climbed to 13, including a 93-year-old British woman, leaving 10 people missing and prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to visit the region and call for reinforced fire prevention measures.

Beyond the immediate destruction of the fires, the prolonged extreme heat has resulted in a grim rise in “excess deaths” across the continent.

Monitoring data indicates that thousands more fatalities were recorded than usual during the late June heatwave that engulfed Europe and Britain, highlighting the severe human cost of these summer scorchers.