The death toll from Spain's summer wildfires rose to eight on Thursday, when a fire engine fell down a gully and the driver was killed in northern Teruel province, regional officials said, according to dpa. Fires devastated more than 8,000 hectares in the region of Aragon, where Teruel is located. About 1,500 people were evacuated from six villages and 130 children from a holiday camp. The environmental damage in Teruel was described as the worst in 15 years. Spain was considering seeking French or Portuguese help against the fires, officials said. In north-eastern Catalonia, winds were hampering the battle against a blaze which killed four firefighters on Tuesday. Two others were in very serious condition. The fire has already consumed more than 1,100 hectares of forest and bush, part of it in Els Ports nature park. Several fires earlier led to the evacuation of dozens of people, while others voluntarily left their homes, in northern Burgos province and nearby areas. Gradually, firefighters were getting the flames under control. Fires also forced a suspension of the high-speed rail link between Madrid and Barcelona, affecting about 13,000 passengers. The connection was re-established on Thursday. The government reported around a dozen major fires around the country, with more than 1,000 firefighters and soldiers participating in the firefighting effort. High temperatures have contributed to the fires, the suspected causes of which include lightning, burning stubble, and arson.
