Key facts
- A 22-year-old volunteer firefighter died while battling a wildfire in the Savoie region of the French Alps.
- Wildfires are currently active across southern Europe.
- Thousands have been evacuated from their homes in France due to fires.
- The European Commission has deployed 777 firefighters from 14 countries to combat blazes.
- Temperatures are forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius in southwest France.
A 22-year-old volunteer firefighter has died while battling a forest fire in the Savoie region of the French Alps. The incident occurred amidst widespread wildfires across southern Europe, exacerbated by prolonged heatwaves in May and June that have left large areas parched and vulnerable.
Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes in France due to the blazes. In response, the European Commission has deployed a record 777 firefighters from 14 countries to high-risk areas, including France, to assist in combating the fires.
Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius in southwest France this week. A significant fire in France's Pyrenees-Orientales department has already scorched 4,900 hectares and impacted the Tour de France. Separately, an arrest was made in Spain in connection with a fire believed to have been started by an angle grinder.