UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Portuguese wildfires send smoke to southern England, causing hazy skies, as nearly 4,000 firefighters struggle to control multiple major blazes.
As reported by The Telegraph, Portugal’s wildfires have sent smoke across the Bay of Biscay to southern England.
According to the Met Office, smoke from Portugal’s fires has drifted into parts of Britain and Ireland.
Met Office warning about smoke from Portugal’s wildfires
Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said a “fair amount of smoke” is drifting from Portugal toward the UK, especially south-west England.
He stated,
“We have seen in the last couple of days the smoke from the fires drift up, but it’s generally in the atmosphere. It is making the skies hazy and a little bit less blue than usual.”
The Met officer confirmed that the smoke is unlikely to impact air quality in the UK, adding,
“At the moment, it is not really affecting air quality, and we are expecting normal levels of air quality for the next five days.”
Mr Snell said the smoke might reach Wales and northern England.
Firefighters battling Portugal’s wildfires
Portugal has sent about 4,000 firefighters to fight the fires, and the alert is extended until Sunday.
Officials in Lisbon requested help from the EU’s civil protection force. This aids countries during major emergencies. Officials said the fires were out of control. Villages were surrounded, and firefighters struggled against strong winds.
Spain wildfires risks
Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s prime minister, said new wildfires pose “extreme risk.” Firefighters continue battling 14 major fires that have killed seven people.
Greek officials evacuated more villages as a wildfire on Chios continued burning for a fourth day. In northern Chios, firefighters used two planes and two helicopters to tackle the wildfire.
Carlos Dâmaso, ex-mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, died fighting wildfires. His body was found on Friday.
A firefighter fell into a ravine near Patras while fighting a fire. He was rescued and taken to the hospital with back and leg injuries.
Sara Aagesen’s stance on Spain’s wildfires
Spain’s environment minister, Sara Aagesen, warned that 14 ongoing wildfires show the country’s vulnerability to global heating.
She said,
“The fires are one of the parts of the impact of that climate change, which is why we have to do all we can when it comes to prevention.”
Ms Aagesen added,
“Our country is especially vulnerable to climate change. We have resources now, but given that the scientific evidence and the general expectation point to it having an ever greater impact, we need to work to reinforce and professionalise those resources.”
Current wildfire situation in Spain & Portugal
Spain is fighting 14 major wildfires, with extreme conditions in the north and west. Portugal has 7 large blazes, including a persistent fire in Trancoso raging for six days.
At least 7 deaths in Spain and widespread evacuations. More than 158,000 hectares burned in Spain, double the annual average.
Extreme heat (up to 44°C), arson, and climate change are raising wildfire risks. Both Portugal and Spain called on the EU civil protection mechanism, receiving aerial support like Canadair planes.
Critical fire zones include Spain’s Galicia, Castile and León, and Extremadura, where high-speed rail and highways were closed. In Portugal, Trancoso and Arganil saw 900+ firefighters deployed to tackle the blazes.
5 destructive wildfires in history
- Peshtigo Fire (1871) – Wisconsin, US
- Great Fire of 1910 (1910) – Idaho/Montana/Washington, US
- Camp Fire (2018) – California, US
- Lahaina Fire (2023) – Maui, Hawaii
- Texas Wildfires (2024)