Wildfires

Wildfires - Russia

Russia this year has suffered the most Arctic wildfires since satellite monitoring started as climate change creates the conditions necessary for blazes to start and then take hold.

Monitoring by two Nasa satellites recorded 10,057 hotspots in Russia's Arctic territory by the start of August, 10 times more than were found in the same period a decade ago. That number is the highest since the satellites recorded their first full year of images in 2003.

Wildfires - Greece

Greek fire crews have evacuated two villages on an island near Athens as a fire continues to rage through a pine forest, fanned by strong winds. The blaze took hold in a dry pine forest in the Dirfyon municipal region at 3.20pm (local time) Sunday and is heading towards the evacuated villages, close to Athens. The fires prompted the mass evacuation of Kontodespoti and Stavros village in central Evia, about 70 km (44 miles) from Athens, which was described as a precaution.

Wildfires - Washington, USA

Lightning strikes this weekend sparked dozens of Washington state wildfires. Strong winds spread new and existing ones, even as the cooler, wetter weather provided temporary aid to fire crews in some areas.

There are two dozen large fires in Washington and Oregon involving 256,451 acres, the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) said Sunday morning. More than 8,580 people, including firefighters and support personnel, are assigned to fight the blazes.

Washington recorded more than 180 lightning strikes over the 24 hours that ended at 8 a.m. Sunday, as thunderstorms rolled across the Northwest. Strong winds fanned flames across an already dry landscape.