Morning opening: This is too much
Jakub Krupa
A child and three firefighters were taken to hospital following the wildfire in Stourbridge as England once again joined a long – and growing – list of countries battling active fires during this year’s extraordinarily extremely hot summer.
With the hottest day of the year recorded in England on Thursday, the temperatures are expected to start to fall, but just slightly, on Friday, with low to mid 30s expected.
Across the channel, France is also expecting another hot day after temperatures of up to 41C on Thursday. Over 500 people were evacuated from the southwestern Landes region.
Over in Greece, hundreds of tourists were evacuated from the popular hotspot of Halkidiki, as firefighters continue to fight a large blaze amid gale-force winds.
At least 19 people were also injured in a fire near the Croatian tourist town of Omiš, with two people requiring hospitalisation in the popular city of Split.
I will bring you all the updates during the day. Stay safe, and drink plenty of water.
It’s Friday, 14 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events
1,800 people evacuated overnight as German wildfire spreads
Around 1,800 people had to leave their homes in western Germany overnight as a wildfire spread nearby, officials said Friday, with helicopters and army equipment deployed to help battle the flames, AFP reported.
A district of the town of Hürtgenwald near the Belgian and Dutch borders was evacuated after the fire expanded from 25 hectares (around 60 acres) to 300 hectares by Friday morning.
PM Burnham offers thanks to firefighters tackling West Midlands blaze
UK prime minister Andy Burnham also responded to the wildfire in West Midlands, saying his thoughts are with everyone affected.
“I’m in touch with local leaders like [West Midlands Mayor] Richard Parker and will be speaking to emergency services on the ground as they continue their response.
Our firefighters are working in incredibly difficult conditions and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe. A huge thank you to them and everyone supporting the effort tonight.”
He added:
“Please stay safe and follow their advice.”
‘Extensive’ devastation caused by ‘one of the most significant’ incidents West Midlands Fire Service faced
The latest from West Midlands is that fire crews are making progress tackling huge blazes that led to thousands of 999 calls and caused “extensive” devastation, a fire chief said, as reported by PA.
Chief fire officer Simon Tuhill, of West Midlands Fire Service, said one huge blaze in Stourbridge, which forced some people to flee after it started tearing through homes, was “one of the most significant” incidents the region’s fire service has ever dealt with.
An update from West Midlands Fire Service on Friday morning said crews were “making progress” and “tactically working across several different areas of the site”.
Morning opening: This is too much
Jakub Krupa
A child and three firefighters were taken to hospital following the wildfire in Stourbridge as England once again joined a long – and growing – list of countries battling active fires during this year’s extraordinarily extremely hot summer.
With the hottest day of the year recorded in England on Thursday, the temperatures are expected to start to fall, but just slightly, on Friday, with low to mid 30s expected.
Across the channel, France is also expecting another hot day after temperatures of up to 41C on Thursday. Over 500 people were evacuated from the southwestern Landes region.
Over in Greece, hundreds of tourists were evacuated from the popular hotspot of Halkidiki, as firefighters continue to fight a large blaze amid gale-force winds.
At least 19 people were also injured in a fire near the Croatian tourist town of Omiš, with two people requiring hospitalisation in the popular city of Split.
I will bring you all the updates during the day. Stay safe, and drink plenty of water.
It’s Friday, 14 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
