Wildfires rage in Portugal, Greece and Spain while Greek authorities warn of toxic smoke

By — Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/wildfires-rage-in-portugal-greece-and-spain-while-greek-authorities-warn-of-toxic-smoke Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Wildfires rage in Portugal, Greece and Spain while Greek authorities warn of toxic smoke World Jul 5, 2026 11:43 AM EDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires in Portugal, Greece and Spain on Sunday, with Spain and Italy sending reinforcements to Portugal to help with a massive blaze burning for more than three days. Authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, to remain indoors and shut their windows and doors due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant that was engulfed by a wildfire. Another major wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon west of the Greek capital, Athens. The fire department said 155 firefighters, backed up by volunteers, specialized teams, 16 water-dropping planes and six helicopters were deployed to battle the blaze burning through pine forest in the Mandra area. A firefighting plane drops water at a burning recycling factory in Oreokastro, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki, Greece, on July 5, 2026. Photo by Alexandros Avramidis/Reuters In central Portugal's Vouzela area, more than 1,200 firefighters backed up by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft tried to put out a blaze that broke out on Thursday, according to the Civil Protection authority. The wildfire had burned across an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) by Sunday, information from the European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping agency showed. The EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid said that Spain sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles as reinforcements to Portugal on Friday, while three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain were also dispatched to help. READ MORE: Aspen Acres wildfire southwest of Denver forces thousands to evacuate and destroys more than 160 structures By Sunday afternoon, the fire appeared to be abating somewhat, with Portuguese media quoting officials as saying it no longer had major active fronts but that some hot spots remained. In Spain, a wildfire burning since Friday in the northeastern Girona region had burned nearly 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres), the EFE news agency said. Catalan Fire Service head of operations Eduard Martinez said the blaze had a perimeter of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and firefighters may not be able to bring it under control on Sunday, EFE said. Toxic smoke from wildfire in northern Greece On the other side of southern Europe, in Greece, a fast-moving blaze at a recycling plant broke out Saturday evening near the Oraiokastro suburb of Thessaloniki, triggering evacuation alerts for three suburbs and a facility housing 157 people with disabilities. Strong winds fanned the flames, and around 160 firefighters were deployed to battle the f