AP

Designer Armani and guests flee wildfire on Sicilian island

Aug 18, 2022, 2:20 AM | Updated: 11:06 am

A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

(679,000 acres)

MILAN (AP) — Firefighters worked Thursday to put out the remnants of two wildfires on a Sicilian island that forced fashion designer Giorgio Armani and dozens of others to flee their vacation villas overnight.

A photo from the island of Pantelleria showed flames appearing to encroach on Armani’s villa, but the Italian designer’s press office said they stopped short of the property. Armani and guests evacuated to a boat in the harbor.

The head of the region’s civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, said arson was suspected in two wildfires that forced around 30 people to seek refuge in boats or on safer parts of the island. Firefighters used Canadair planes to douse the flames, along with ground teams to protect homes. Authorities said no structures appeared to have been lost.

The island’s mayor, Vincenzo Campo, told Italian news agency ANSA that two planes were working on putting out the last flames on difficult terrain and that the wind had dropped off.

“After the great fear of last evening and the night spent at work, Pantelleria is returning to normal,” Campo said. “It seems the worst is over.”

Local officials appealed for any information that would help identify the cause of the blaze, which started in two places 400 meters (a quarter-mile) apart.

Pantelleria, located between Sicily and Tunisia, is a popular beach and trekking destination that includes ancient archaeological sites and natural geographic formations.

Scientists say global warming will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. Much of western Europe saw little rain this summer, and drought conditions coupled with hot weather have fueled destructive forest fires.

So far this summer, wildfires in Spain have blackened more than 700,000 hectares, the largest area since the European Union started collecting satellite data in 2006.

The EU’s Earth Observation Program said more torrid weather was forecast for Spain as two “disastrous” wildfires burned in the eastern part of the country. The fires in the Mediterranean provinces of Alicante and Castellón have each charred more than 13,000 hectares, the EU agency said.

Meanwhile, authorities in Portugal reported that a wildfire burning for almost two weeks in the pine forests of Serra da Estrela national park was brought under control. However, officials warned of weather forecasts indicating a dangerous new heat wave would arrive soon.

High temperatures, strong winds and a severe drought helped sustain the blaze in the park, where deep ravines and steep hillsides make firefighting difficult.

More than 1,100 firefighters remained in the Serra da Estrela, keeping an eye out for hot spots and embers that might be blown into untouched forest, the Civil Protection Agency, a government department, said.

The blaze charred more than 26,000 hectares (64,000 acres) of woodland, according to European Union data — about one-fourth of the park’s area.

On Wednesday, the fire’s perimeter measured 160 kilometers, emergency officials said, and jumped 125-meter-wide firebreaks that had been cleared since the area’s last major blaze, in 2017.

Fire officials said that was an indication the country is fighting a “new generation” of wildfires that are harder to stop amid the consequences of climate change.

Temperatures in Portugal were due to start climbing, reaching 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 F) in inland areas on Saturday, as the country endures its third heat wave of the summer.

___

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              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighting airplane flies over a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              Firefighters work to put out a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighter walks near a forest fire in the Rio Maior area in Portugal, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said they hoped to bring under control a wildfire that has burned for 12 days and burnt large swaths of pine forest in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. However, officials warned a new heat wave forecast for the area could complicate the task. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighting airplane flies over a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighting airplane flies over a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              Firefighters work to put out a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              Firefighters work to put out a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighter walks near a forest fire in the Rio Maior area in Portugal, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said they hoped to bring under control a wildfire that has burned for 12 days and burnt large swaths of pine forest in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. However, officials warned a new heat wave forecast for the area could complicate the task. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighter walks near a forest fire in the Rio Maior area in Portugal, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said they hoped to bring under control a wildfire that has burned for 12 days and burnt large swaths of pine forest in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. However, officials warned a new heat wave forecast for the area could complicate the task. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighting airplane flies over a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              Firefighters work to put out a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighter walks near a forest fire in the Rio Maior area in Portugal, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said they hoped to bring under control a wildfire that has burned for 12 days and burnt large swaths of pine forest in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. However, officials warned a new heat wave forecast for the area could complicate the task. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A partially charred forest after a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire in the Serra da Estrela national park, Portugal on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said Thursday they had brought under control a wildfire that for almost two weeks raced through pine forests in the Serra da Estrela national park, but officials warned a dangerous new heat wave is about to arrive. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighting airplane flies over a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A helicopter drops water during a wildfire extinction work near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              Firefighters work to put out a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A cloud of smoke rises during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              A firefighter walks near a forest fire in the Rio Maior area in Portugal, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Authorities in Portugal said they hoped to bring under control a wildfire that has burned for 12 days and burnt large swaths of pine forest in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. However, officials warned a new heat wave forecast for the area could complicate the task. (AP Photo/Joao Henriques)
            
              A forest burns during a wildfire near Alcublas, eastern Spain, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The European Forest Fire Information System says 275,000 hectares (679,000 acres) have burned in wildfires so far this year in Spain. That's more than four times the country's annual average of 67,000 hectares (165,000 acres) since 2006, when records began. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
            
              FILE - Designer Giorgio Armani accepts applause at the end of the Armani Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2018/2019 fashion collection presented Tuesday, July 3, 2018 in Paris. Firefighters are putting out the remnants of two wildfires on a Sicilian island that forced fashion designer Giorgio Armani and dozens more to flee vacation villas overnight. The head of the region’s civil protection agency said Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 that arson is suspected in two wildfires that forced some 30 people to seek refuge in boats or on safer parts of the island. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
            
              Flames burn beyond fashion designer Giorgio Armani's villa on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. The designer and his guests evacuated overnight to a boat in the port, and the flames stopped short of the property, according to his press office. (Armani Press Office Via AP)

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Designer Armani and guests flee wildfire on Sicilian island