
10 days · 9 summary articles
A volunteer firefighter in the Netherlands died on Wednesday after being struck by a fire truck while battling a vegetation fire near Ouddorp on Goeree-Overflakkee, bringing the 2026 European wildfire season death toll among firefighters to 11, according to a social media report . The fatalities include five in Greece, four in France, one in Italy, and one in the Netherlands.
In Germany, firefighters maintained control overnight of a wildfire near Plauen in the Vogtlandkreis, with no further flare-ups reported. Patrick Heinritz, the fire protection department head and incident commander for the Plauen professional fire brigade, said crews used hand tools to expose and smother embers, supported by a drone with thermal imaging and a helicopter for water drops. About 180 personnel were deployed at peak times, with two treated for minor circulatory issues. The fire, which broke out Tuesday evening in the "Schwarzes Holz" area, has burned over 7 hectares of difficult terrain in a drinking water protection zone, restricting the use of foam .
In Cyprus, crews from Lakatamia and Peristerona fire stations, backed by the Forestry Department and the volunteer Atlas Fireteam, contained a wildfire near Orounta and Kato Moni in the Nicosia district. The Fire Service reported flames approached homes before being brought under control .
French authorities evacuated around 1,200 people from a campsite in northern France due to rapidly spreading wildfires, with one blaze advancing southward through challenging terrain .
In Hungary, firefighters extinguished a vegetation fire below the Halászbástya in Budapest after civilians and emergency responders acted quickly to prevent its spread. Dense smoke was visible over the Buda Castle area, but the flames did not expand further .
Greek authorities have detained 281 people in connection with wildfires this year, including 29 for alleged arson and 252 for negligence, according to fire service spokesman Jannis Artopios. The country remains on high alert, with several regions classified as extremely high risk .
In North Macedonia, the Directorate for Protection and Rescue reported at least 21 active wildfires in open areas as of Thursday afternoon, with a significant blaze in the municipality of Makedonski Brod .
A major fire at an oil depot in Constanța, Romania, covering 5,000 square meters, prompted a RO-Alert message due to thick smoke. Firefighters from Tulcea were dispatched to assist local crews .
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