Spain Fights Wildfires, Heat Waves

Firefighters on Saturday struggled to bring raging wildfires under control in Spain, as an unseasonable heat wave brought temperatures near record levels.

According to the national weather agency AEMET, the country is heading toward its hottest early summer temperatures in decades.

Dry and windy conditions have caused wildfires in several areas, with Zamora, near the border with Portugal, among the worst hit.

Also, almost 20,000 hectares of land had been burned in the Sierra de la Culebra mountain range and the fire was still active.

It was said that 11 villages had been evacuated and some 500 firefighters were working to put out the flames.

Also, there have been no reports of deaths or injuries.

In Catalonia, firefighters who were trying to bring a fire under control in Baldomar said they expected a complicated and very high temperatures and a strong southerly wind.

The firefighters helped evacuate residents, some of whom dragged along their pet dogs and horses, as smoke wafted through the village.