MyNorthwest

News

Opinion

Sports

Tools

Connect

EXPLAINER: What’s behind Europe’s spate of deadly wildfires?

FILE - Firefighters work at the scene of a wildfire in Tabara, north-west Spain, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

FILE - Alex Codonyer, 55, hugs his son Alan, 12, next to their house burnt during a wildfire in River Park village, near the town of El Pont de Vilomara, Spain, July 19, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)

FILE - A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire at a house near Megara town, west of Athens, Greece, July 20, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

FILE - A National Republican Guard firefighter put out a forest fire in the village of Rebolo, near Ansiao central Portugal, July 14, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

FILE - A helicopter launches water as a wildfire advances near a residential area in Alhaurin de la Torre, Malaga, Spain, July 16, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero, File)

FILE - A dead goat lies on the ground after a forest fire on a farm in San Martin de Tabara, north-west Spain, July 19, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

FILE - Charred trees stand after a wildfire near the town of El Pont de Vilomara, Spain, July 19, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)

FILE - A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames during a wildfire near Megara town, west of Athens, Greece, July 20, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

FILE - A local resident fights a forest fire with a shovel during a wildfire in Tabara, north-west Spain, July 19, 2022. Major wildfires in Europe are starting earlier in the year, becoming more frequent, doing more damage and getting harder to stop. And, scientists say, they’re probably going to get worse as climate change intensifies unless countermeasures are taken. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

EXPLAINER: What’s behind Europe’s spate of deadly wildfires?