Third wave of extreme heat leaves authorities in Europe on alert Around 13 thousand hectares destroyed by fire in northern Portugal, 2,200 hectares in northeastern Spain, 1,500 hectares in southern France and flames around two factories in Greece. Southern Europe suffers from forest fires. In Portugal, the city of Vouzela, in the district of Viseu, has been suffering from fire for three days. In total, the flames have already devastated at least 13 thousand hectares of vegetation. But "the situation is evolving favorably" this Sunday (5), according to local authorities, who estimate that around 80% of the fire is under control. Hit by a heat wave since Wednesday (1st), the country recorded its first major fires this summer, which left at least nine injured – two of them civilians, in serious condition. The situation led Portugal to activate the European civil protection mechanism to receive reinforcements to combat the fire. In neighboring Spain, a fire broke out on Friday (3) near the tourist region of Costa Brava, in the northeast, burning 2,200 hectares. According to firefighters, the flames are "under control", although they expect "a complicated day due to high temperatures and smoke". On Sunday afternoon (5), authorities suspended the protection perimeter imposed on around ten municipalities around La Bisbal d’Empordà, around 20 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast, allowing residents to return to their homes. The focus was likely due to "negligence", and one person was detained. According to the Spanish press, the suspect was a worker who had used an electric saw in a prohibited area. People cool off in the Trocadéro fountain, in front of the Eiffel Tower, during a heat wave in Paris, France. Abdul Saboor/Reuters Fire threatens two Greek factories Greek firefighters continued this Sunday to fight the flames around two factories near Thessaloniki, in the north of the country, after a forest fire that could be controlled. Thick clouds of black smoke, coming from a recycling plant and another oil treatment plant, spread to the center of Greece's second largest city, with more than 700,000 inhabitants in its metropolitan area. An elderly man, identified as the person allegedly responsible for the fire, was presented to the police this Sunday. According to Greek authorities, 60 fires were recorded in the last 24 hours across the country, but most were quickly controlled. Combat operations mobilize 154 firefighters, supported by 52 vehicles, two firefighting planes and two helicopters. Several regions of Greece – including Athens, Attica and the tourist island of Crete – were placed on orange alert this Sunday, with a "very high" risk of fires due to high temperatures and strong winds. The warning will be maintained in much of Crete on Monday (6), as well as for islands close to the Turkish coast, such as Chios and Samos, according to Civil Protection. Fire and new heat wave in France In France, in the Pyrenees-Orientales region, in the south of the country, around 1,500 hectares have already been affected by a fire that started on Saturday night (4), in a mountainous area that is difficult to access. Planes and helicopters were mobilized to assist the work of around 700 firefighters. According to local authorities, conditions are worsening with the intensification of winds. This sudden onset of fire occurred just as seven regions in France returned to orange surveillance level due to forecast high temperatures, a week after a historic heat wave. Other fires had already been recorded in the south of the country in recent days. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said he was "very worried" about a fire season that is "a month ahead of schedule." According to Météo-France, the national meteorological agency, 16 regions in the south and west of France will enter orange heat wave surveillance on Monday (6). At the beginning of next week, temperatures will reach between 36°C and 39°C again, and may exceed 40°C in some locations.