Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes and holiday accommodation as deadly Europe wildfires continue to rage across Italy, France and Spain, driven by extreme heat, strong winds and prolonged dry conditions.

According to AFP, via Channels Television, three firefighters have died battling the blazes as temperatures climbed above 40°C in parts of southern Europe, highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather across the region.

In Italy, around 6,000 firefighters, forest guards and civil protection personnel have been deployed to tackle dozens of wildfires burning across Sicily. Despite the use of water-bombing aircraft, officials described the situation as serious, with intense heat and parched ground fuelling the flames.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that a firefighter died after falling ill while responding to one of the fires.

Authorities also reported more than 160 fires in the neighbouring Calabria region, where local civil protection officials alleged that many outbreaks were caused by deliberate acts of arson. Investigators are examining claims that flammable materials were attached to stray cats in an attempt to spread the fires.

In France, a major wildfire near Le Porge, southwest of Bordeaux, has destroyed about 2,000 hectares of pine forest since Wednesday. More than 10,000 tourists were evacuated from campsites and holiday accommodation, while about 700 residents also left their homes as a precaution.

The latest blaze comes days after two firefighters were killed while battling another wildfire near Bordeaux airport. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez met the victims’ families as firefighters’ unions warned of growing exhaustion and insufficient resources.

Firefighters described the Le Porge blaze as unusually intense because of the dense pine forest and exceptionally dry conditions.

In Spain, emergency services said improving conditions allowed most evacuated residents near Toledo, south of Madrid, to return home after firefighters gained ground against a major wildfire. However, some communities remain under evacuation orders as crews continue to contain the flames.

Elsewhere, hundreds of firefighters are still battling a much larger wildfire in Guadalajara province, north of Madrid, which has scorched about 32,000 hectares since it began last week.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change, driven largely by the burning of fossil fuels, is increasing the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and wildfires.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System, Spain recorded more than 393,000 hectares of land destroyed by wildfires in 2025, the highest figure in the country’s recent history.