Southern Europe is facing a devastating wildfire season as intense flames fueled by a combination of high temperatures, strong winds, and potential human or natural causes sweep across multiple countries.

Wildfires are burning in parts of Europe, displacing thousands, as water-dropping planes and helicopters swoop overhead and residents join the effort, beating back flames with cut branches or

Smoke from wildfires in Southern Europe has brought hazy conditions to the UK, disrupting the current heatwave, forecasters have said. The UK experienced the fourth heatwave of the summer this week, with some areas seeing the mercury climb above 33C in the hottest places.

With firefighters in southern Europe battling blazes that have killed people in multiple countries and forced thousands to evacuate, Spain’s environment minister on Wednesday called the wildfires a “clear warning” of the climate emergency driven by the fossil fuel industry.

Europe’s wildfire crisis intensified as blazes across Greece, Spain, France and Portugal forced thousands to from their homes — killing at least six and consuming over 1 million acres amid record heat and worsening climate conditions.

A heat wave gripping parts of Europe sent temperatures over 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit — 40 degrees Celsius — in southern France and the Western Balkans on Monday.

Outside the Greek port city of Patras, firefighters struggled to protect homes and agricultural facilities as flames tore through pine forests and olive groves.

In Spain, as temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts reached 45 miles per hour, officials ordered the evacuation of 3,700 people across 16 municipalities, the Guardian reported. One man died from burns suffered while trying to free horses from a stable amid the blaze.