2 firefighters die in Greece as others fight massive blaze in France

Core Impact Points

• A total of 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft are mobilized to combat the massive wildfire in France, with crews from across France and European partners assisting.
• The wildfire in France has burned an area four times the size of Paris, with temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and strengthening afternoon winds threatening to spread the fire.
• The fire in Greece's Rethymno region of Crete has claimed the lives of two firefighters, with four helicopters and four water-dropping planes deployed to combat the flames.
• The extreme heat and dry conditions in western Europe have contributed to the spread and intensification of fires in France and Spain, with over 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles) burned across France this year.
• The wildfires have also pushed particulate pollution higher across both departments, with regional air-quality monitors reporting elevated levels of smoke and particulate matter.
• The disruption caused by the wildfires is spreading beyond the burn zone, with Bordeaux's peak tourism season threatened by official appeals to avoid the region.