Europe’s latest heatwave is rewriting the emergency playbook. Spain and Portugal are battling intense wildfires during what’s turned into the third-longest heatwave on record. Spain has now sent in 500 more soldiers on top of the 1,400 already fighting the flames, as temperatures soar toward 45 °C. (AP News)

Worse Than Usual

These fires aren’t localized flare-ups anymore—they’re epic in scale, burning huge swaths of land as heat locks regions in place. Spain’s prime minister called for a state-wide, science-based strategy to better tackle these climate-triggered disasters. Spain has seen over 1,100 heat-related deaths and 382,000 hectares scorched, while Portugal isn’t far behind. (The Guardian)

Why This Stands Out

Wildfires flare up every summer, sure, but this season feels different. It’s not just the length or the heat—it’s how fast ecosystems and cities are being overwhelmed. Seeing emergency forces stretched so thin and climate disasters become daily news—it just doesn’t feel normal.

Sources:
AP News (Spain deploys troops to fight wildfires),
The Guardian (wildfires scale and political response)