Firefighters across Europe continued to battle extreme wildfire conditions on July 21, as an ongoing heat wave fueled dangerous outbreaks from Spain to France, accompanied by drought and forecasts of severe hailstorms in parts of the continent.

In southwestern France’s Gironde region, two firefighters died while combating a blaze near an airport, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. This comes two weeks after another firefighter was killed in the Savoie region in the French Alps. Meanwhile, a wildfire in the southern Var department rapidly consumed 500 hectares and was spreading toward the commune of Cotignac. Local authorities have described the fire as “out of control,” prompting evacuations of at least 150 people.

In Spain’s central Guadalajara province, a forest fire entered its sixth day, forcing more than 1,200 residents to evacuate. Emergency responders faced extreme fire danger fueled by temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). This incident follows a recent deadly wildfire near Bedar in southern Almeria province, which claimed 13 lives — Spain’s deadliest wildfire in decades.

The heat wave reflects broader climate trends impacting Europe, which is currently the world’s fastest-warming continent. Researchers link rising temperatures to more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and sudden storms. This year, Europe has experienced three consecutive heat waves, contributing to thousands of excess deaths between May and June.

The drought situation is severe in several regions. England, in particular, has seen only 3% of its usual July rainfall, with southern and eastern parts receiving no rain at all, the longest such dry spell since the mid-1990s. As a result, Thames Water announced restrictions on water use for its 10 million customers in and around London, including bans on outdoor hoses, sprinklers, and pressure washing to conserve supplies.

Southern Europe is also facing intense heat. In Sicily, Italy, temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius on July 21. Farmer Marco Barbaccia reported that a wind-driven wildfire destroyed his olive groves, resulting in the loss of this year’s harvest and damage to trees needed for future production. In Greece, officials issued advisories urging residents to stay indoors as the country endured its first major heat wave of the season, with temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius in central Athens. Residents and tourists sought shade and cooled themselves with misting fans and water at public spaces such as the Acropolis Hill.

Across Western Europe, average high temperatures on July 21 were about 2.7 degrees Celsius above the long-term July average recorded between 1961 and 1990. Greece experienced temperatures nearly 6 degrees Celsius above its historical norm, while Spain’s average high was more than 5 degrees Celsius above typical values.

The Western Balkans are facing additional challenges amid the heat. In Albania, residents sought relief at public water fountains amid temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius. In Serbia, the Danube River reached its lowest water levels since 1946, forcing navigation adjustments on the river. Authorities in the region also warned of a shift from heat waves to severe hailstorms. A hailstorm in northern Croatia’s Adriatic resort of Rovinj caused minor injuries to several people. Forecasts indicate that such storms will continue spreading north and southeast through Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, southern Serbia, and North Macedonia.

The combination of rising temperatures, drought, wildfires, and extreme weather events continues to challenge European emergency services and communities across the continent.