Spain and France are battling large-scale wildfires amid a severe heatwave hitting southern Europe, where firefighters have warned that the risk of more fires breaking out in the coming days remains very high, even as a large fire in the Stone Valley area of central Spain began to recede, allowing some residents to return to their homes.

Data shows that wildfires have so far this year burned areas of European land exceeding the annual average over the past two decades, at a time when the continent - the fastest warming in the world - has experienced three consecutive severe heatwaves since the beginning of the year.

In terms of human casualties, two firefighters died after their truck caught fire in the Gironde region of southwestern France. In this context, authorities called on residents to avoid using barbecues in areas affected by heatwaves, noting that nine out of ten wildfires originate - whether accidentally or deliberately - from human activity.

Data from the Reuters Climate Observatory showed that the average maximum temperatures expected across Western Europe is 26.6 degrees Celsius, which is 3 degrees above the normal average recorded between 1961 and 1990.

Wildfires in Spain

The worst wildfire Spain has seen this year has burned about 32,000 hectares in the Stone Valley area, and has begun to recede after causing evacuations affecting 34 municipalities, in addition to issuing orders for residents to stay in their homes in 14 other municipalities.

During his visit to the affected area, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Madrid alone has seen 22 large fires this year, saying: 'We have already reached 100,000 hectares before the most critical period of the year for firefighting, an area equivalent to the annual average in Spain over the past decade,' stressing the need to double efforts to prevent fires in the future.

The Spanish Meteorological Agency reported that the risk of wildfires remains at 'very high or extreme' levels in most of the mainland and the Balearic Islands, with expectations that this risk will increase in the coming days.

Fires in France

More moderate temperatures and lower wind speeds have helped efforts to fight a wildfire that has consumed 2,500 hectares in the Var department in southeastern France, a fire that has damaged dozens of homes and forced 400 people to flee their homes.

Helicopters resumed operations in the morning dropping water on the fire, which is still burning in the department. Commander William Vogel, spokesperson for the firefighters in the Var department, said on RMC radio: 'The situation is very difficult,' adding that the fire has not yet been brought under control, but that the wind is expected to be 'more favorable' in the coming hours.