Wildfires rage in Portugal, Greece, France and Spain
Six countries in southern Europe have been hit by wildfires. One of the blazes, in southwestern France, could affect Monday's third stage of the Tour
Six countries in southern Europe have been hit by wildfires. One of the blazes, in southwestern France, could affect Monday's third stage of the Tour de France, authorities warn. Firefighters across southern Europe battled several wildfires on Sunday, with authorities in southwestern France warning that one blaze could force a partial cancellation of the Tour de France. Blazes were also reported in Portugal, Greece, Spain and the Balkans, just as the summer tourism season moves into high gear. European policymakers have warned of a very extreme danger from wildfires this year, particularly during July and August. Europe's heat wave: The worst is yet to come To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Wildfire may reroute Tour de France French authorities said they would decide by the end of Sunday whether to cancel the third stage of the Tour de France, after a forest fire raged about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the route. The fire, at Trevillach in the Pyrenees-Orientales department, broke out on Saturday, leaving two people — a firefighter and a resident — in a life-threatening condition in the hospital.
Some 750 firefighters, 200 vehicles and nine water-bombing helicopters and other aircraft have been deployed to contain the fire, which officials say has a frontline stretching 18 kilometers. Cyclists are due to cross the finish line in Les Angles in the Pyrenees on Monday, and race officials hope the route can be adapted if required. Around 300 firefighters battled another fire in a mountainous district of France's southeastern Drome department. The wildfire in the Pyrenees broke out on Saturday, turning the skyline orange Image: Castoldi Isabelle/ABACAPRESS/IMAGO Portugal calls in reinforcements from Spain, Italy Meanwhile, a wildfire burning since Thursday in central Portugal's Vouzela area has scorched an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres), according to the country's Civil Protection authority. More than 1,200 firefighters have been working to put out the blaze, along with nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft. By Sunday afternoon, the fire had been somewhat contained, with officials cited in local media as saying that some hot spots remained. Spain sent reinforcement personnel and vehicles to Portugal on Friday, along with two water bombers. Italy also sent two firefighting aircraft. Thousands evacuated as Spain fire rages In Spain's northeastern Girona region, a wildfire burning since Friday ruined nearly 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) of land, the EFE news agency reported.
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