Fires in Europe.

I agree MartavTaurus, is terrifying, with such prolonged heatwaves and no rain this is the tragic end result.
Then, as the rain does come and the earth is rock hard, there will be the inevitable floods.
Extreme weather is becoming the norm.

Theres a bad one here in Scotland too. It's all climate change

When there have been big fires like this in the past they are often caused by humans. Either by mistake or on purpose. Just saying!

Grandmabatty

Theres a bad one here in Scotland too. It's all climate change

Northern Wales too I believe. Conwy?

The immediate cause may be arson, but the underlying cause is climate change.

The BBC weatherman explained how and why we are having such heatwaves and then explained that because the Mediterranean is heating up to an unusual high to expect biblical amounts of rain with the resultant flooding in autumn/winter.

Caroline Lucas has done a podcast with various people from the security services, which talks about because of climate change and the way we have depleted our natural world that there is a much redacted report commissioned by the government, which warns that during the 2030s and beyond, it is a very high risk that nature itself is likely to collapse.

Ignoring that, just like people refuted that climate change was happening will almost certainly bring this collapse about.

The future is not exactly rosy.

Grandmabatty

Theres a bad one here in Scotland too. It's all climate change

Yes that looks awful. Obvs we don’t escape the effects of climate change here in the UK either as we are finding out.

Humans have become utterly self indulgent which results in so much extravagance and waste. The results are affecting our planet with devastating consequences. We were warned about this 40 years ago but once a society is heading down a path it is very difficult to turn round and try to go back.

Bordeaux airport now closed, scary times, we used to live not far away from there, those brave fire fighters.

So frightening for all the people in affected areas, the fires move so quickly. We are being told to keep doors and windows closed because of smoke from Gironde, Bordeaux etc. We are 200km away.
Grateful thanks to all the firefighters and emergency personnel struggling to contain the fires and protect everyone.

We were there just north of Bordeaux last month, the heatwave was approaching nearly 40° then. I looked up the resort today, and barbecues are now strictly forbidden - obviously. Even then, we were feeling a bit twitchy as we were amongst houses in a pine forest. I'm afraid we're revising our ideas for next June/July, as this may well be the future. It's scary for the people living there and tourists alike. And of course animals and all the wildlife.

sodapop a lot of the firefighters in France are volunteers aren't they? I think I remember hearing that volunteers made up about 70% of the force?

Yes that is right MartavTaurus they sell calendars house to house every year as well to help raise funds. I did read somewhere that this may change but not holding my breath.
Very brave people.

Primrose53

When there have been big fires like this in the past they are often caused by humans. Either by mistake or on purpose. Just saying!

Whatever starts them, the thing that's changed is the dry vegetation that enables them to spread & get out of control.

So yes, always been fires but climate change is behind most of these huge, uncontrollable fires.

valdali

Primrose53

When there have been big fires like this in the past they are often caused by humans. Either by mistake or on purpose. Just saying!

Whatever starts them, the thing that's changed is the dry vegetation that enables them to spread & get out of control.

So yes, always been fires but climate change is behind most of these huge, uncontrollable fires.

The Holly tree in my garden has been shedding its leaves because of the heat and unusual for this time of year. The leaves are tinder dry. This must be happening everywhere where there are trees. Now, if my memory is correct, to give him credit ( and can’t believe I’m saying this) didn’t Donald Trump, during his first presidency, query who no one did controlled fires in forests the way they used to? I’m not aware of any other world leader addressing the issue. I realise that what’s happening is on a much greater scale but given that we are going to get more of these hot summers what preventative measures are being taken?

Primrose53

When there have been big fires like this in the past they are often caused by humans. Either by mistake or on purpose. Just saying!

That’s true, it’s either arson or carelessness.Now and again some glass lying around which ignites all around it.
The wildfires across Europe are bad this year.

Call me a 21st century Mrs Noah but I’m still not entirely convinced that this climate shift is man-made. There have been hot and cold spells, lasting centuries, without their being attributed to human agency. The important thing is how to mitigate the effects in drought and fazmine torn country.

Oreo

Primrose53

When there have been big fires like this in the past they are often caused by humans. Either by mistake or on purpose. Just saying!

That’s true, it’s either arson or carelessness.Now and again some glass lying around which ignites all around it.
The wildfires across Europe are bad this year.

We have had woodland and heath fires around here for years and in most cases it is caused by someone throwing a lit cigarette down on tinder dry grass. As Oreo says it can also be glass or started deliberately. Was it France or Greece a year or two ago and they caught the person who had been going round setting fires.

It looks pretty dire around the Bordeaux area. Many years ago we holidayed in a pretty town just south of that city, Arcachon. I imagine that's part of the affected area. How awful for the people.

I think Macron is due to speak tomorrow regarding the next step. The advice is for tourists to stay away from the Gironde area and to make other plans.