While vast areas of the United States continue to suffer from prolonged drought and the associated impact of wildfires, countries in Europe are similarly struggling with both drought and conditions ideally suited for wildfires.

The BBC website reports that Portugal, which has “dozens of fires raging in the center and north of the country,” is now requesting European Union assistance to fight the fires. The country has “1,700 firefighters deployed” and has already lost one of its helicopters being employed to dump water on fires after it crashed, although both crew members only suffered minor injuries.

Neighboring Spain has also been struggling with wildfires. The same BBC story reported that “some 153,000 hectares (378,000 acres) of land have been scorched since January.” A huge wildfire near Marbella on the southern Costa del Sol, “one of Spain’s most popular holiday destinations” is being fought by “hundreds of firefighters backed up by emergency military personnel and 31 planes and helicopters.”